My name is Anita Dotson and I have been involved with Portal Houston for about 4 years now. I started my journey while still incarcerated. I had to do the program a couple of times because I didn’t make parole. Rhonda came to the unit to tell me in person that I hadn’t made parole. I of course thought, at the time, that I was never going to be free. Portal Houston was right there to train and support me in my reentry even when I was still inside. When I was released TDCJ sent me to a state run facility and as soon as I could I contacted Rhonda and she was once again right there to talk to the transition House I chose and to make sure that parole knew that I had housing. When I finally got home my coach was right there to take me to my Parole office and to walk alongside while I navigated my entry back into my new life. When I graduated my transitional house to my new residence my coach came to me and asked if I had everything I needed, she helped me find Recovery Classes in my area and even attended with me. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I didn’t have the support of these ladies standing beside me through one of the toughest times in my life. Even now I begin to tear up thinking about what could’ve happened to my life if Portal Houston hadn’t been there to help me along my path.
Review from Guidestar
This program is ruining the lives of so many women. The woman in charge, Rhonda A. Is just not capable of taking on the task at hand. Just I'm my 6 months with the organization I seen 1 woman OD on pills. I seen several coaches and employees resign due to not being able to deal with Rhonda. She physically assaulted one client. One of the ladies in the house is an open lesbian and is Distributing pills to the other clients. Rhonda does not care because she is more worried about the money than the ladies. It is very heartbreaking.
Review from Guidestar
Oil of Joy provides trauma-informed recovery through female-specific programming in the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice facilities.
Portal Houston is it's re-entry division that provides a forum for collaboration of the criminal justice system and leadership of the service providers in greater Houston area. We are working together to reduce recidivism and reverse the rising rate of female incarceration. Portal Houston provides pre-release assessments and comprehensive post-release assessment, goal-setting and referrals to the communities.
Review from Guidestar
Rhonda A. 07/27/2019
We regret that the volunteer aided and abetted the misconduct of clients mentioned here, colluding with women in recovery to enable them. She did not report any of the alleged misconduct to agency staff so that it could be remedied. There was no physical assault. A primary goal of the executive director is to make sure all programs and services are funded. Secondly to oversee the rest of the staff and ensure that goals are met. All of the alleged activity mentioned here took place inside one transitional home. The staff member in charge of running the home was terminated December 2018. Portal Houston provides case management services to over 100 women per year. The transitional homes that we work with all have a huge task at hand. All struggle with women at various levels of recovery, but in the long run, all are contributing greatly to the recovery of justice-involved women.