Real Life

What it reported doing in 2024

REAL LIFE helps bridge the deep divide between successful living and incarceration, homelessness, and substance use disorder. This is done by addressing these issues in a way that empowers individuals to become independent, successful, and valued members of their community through housing, employment, education, accountability, and emotional support. REAL LIFE provides Lifers with the skills and ability to face daily struggles and unexpected challenges, allowing them to be in control of their future.At REAL LIFE we refer to those we serve as Lifers because we help them in all aspects of life. To us, a Lifer is more than just a client, consumer, or patient. We know that when Lifers seek change through REAL LIFE, it will be a lifelong change. Developing a thriving life is more than staying clean; it is learning to live clean. It is the idea of recovering to something greater than what was lost. We take a holistic approach, as recovery is necessary for life and not just for the moments they are with us.Supporting Lifers in the development and implementation of a realistic plan to achieve their educational goals.As a complement to our Employment Pathways Program, we offer an Educational Pathways Program. Most of the individuals we serve do not have college degrees, and many do not have high school diplomas. Lifers interested in going back to school for either their GED, college degree, or workforce credential can make their dreams a reality with the support of our Educational Navigator.Selecting an educational pathFrom selecting the right school and program to fit their needs to applying for financial aid and filling out the FAFSA, the Educational Navigator meets with each Lifer to help them develop and implement a realistic plan with a feasible timeline.Through the Education Navigation program, we also connect Lifers with technical programs they may be interested in, such as working toward their CDL. Additionally, have a construction pre-apprenticeship program for those qualifying and in our program for at least 3 monthsREAL LIFE Curriculum Inspiring participants to face their problems and overcome their addictive lifestylesQUOTE: "As I progressed through the curriculum book, I made changes in my life, reconnected with family, while journaling my progress through each module. I gained the structure and stability to regain my life skills and move out on my own." AlanThe cornerstone of the REAL LIFE program is a 23-module curriculum written by Dr. Scarbrough. The curriculum is based on trauma-informed care and behavior modification. This approach is unique to REAL LIFE due to the complexity, intensity, and significant training required to implement. The curriculum's behavioral modification focus inspires participants to face their problems and overcome their addictive lifestyles, whether it is to drugs, alcohol, dealing drugs, women, cars, etc. namely, whatever placed them in their current situation, and so often kept them caught in the cycle time and time again.Highlights of our curriculum: Written by REAL LIFE Founder and Director, Dr. Sarah Scarbrough after working with thousands of inmates over 10 years within a jail setting and in the community. Written through a trauma-informed lens, this curriculum uses social learning models and cognitive-behavioral interventions are utilized to help participants restructure and reframe destructive thought patterns while developing healthy coping skills. One curriculum that encompasses a comprehensive approach to addressing addictions and behaviors to modify thinking. Written specifically for education levels of 6th grade for men and 9th grade for women. Focused on long-term change, helping Lifers understand, apply and establish lasting change.Background on the Curriculum: REAL LIFE's core curriculum entitled Real Life with REAL LIFE, written by REAL LIFE Founder and Director Dr. Sarah Scarbrough, positively and comprehensively addresses addictions and behaviors, while working to also modif

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 85.9%; rating input score 86
• Program expense ratio: 89.5%; rating input score 89
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 4.2%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.72; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.3%; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 28.3% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 28.4% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 31.4% per year; rating input score 100; 94th percentile among comparable filings