An employee publication of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
June 2024
Specialized Dorms: Building Community and Connection
by Jenevieve Andersen
The recently renamed Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit sits on the outskirts of Gatesville. With a capacity of 644 inmates, the unit houses females of all custody levels. There are six unique housing dorms within the unit that were created to serve the individualized needs of specific populations such as veterans or those overcoming substance use. For just over 200 of those women, that housing is more than just a cell; it’s a community.
With an understanding that a sense of connection can be created when you bring together people with similar backgrounds, the dorms house women who share common experiences, which allow them to relate on a deeper level.
Kristen Gamez, a peer support coach in the Recovery Opportunity Dorm said, “This is a place where we are all working to be our best selves and we’re doing it together in a place that is supportive and motivational.”
The Recovery Dorm is a space for empathy and understanding, where these women can learn to get sober and stay sober, where they begin to understand the foundations of recovery and sobriety, and discover what their lives can look like beyond addiction.
“I believe it is a space that is supportive and caring, where we can share and connect and uplift each other. It has been monumental to my recovery journey,” Gamez said.
April Zamora, director of the Reentry and Integration Division which oversees the STRIVE Reentry Dorm and the S.T.A.R.S. Dorm, described that sense of community.
“They’re really going on a journey and working on discovering who they are now and who they want to be in the future. These dorms have created a safe place for them to work through their trauma and begin to heal. They’re not necessarily thinking about their past; they’re working toward the future.”
Lucinda Wilson, former hospital corpsman, U.S. Navy
In the S.T.A.R.S. dorm, all the women living there are military veterans. S.T.A.R.S. stands for Service Through Action Reveals Strength. For this group of women, that service is now about giving back to their community, both within the prison and beyond.
They give back to their fellow inmates by conducting themselves with dignity and self-respect as they post the colors during unit graduation ceremonies as members of the first-ever female inmate honor guard. They give back to the community by participating in the Patriot PAWS program and training puppies that will eventually be service animals for veterans in need.
“Being able to train these dogs that I know are going to go back to the veterans is really special because I’m giving back to my fellow veterans,” Patriot PAWS trainer Ginger Dorsey said.
In each of these dorms, the connecting thread is that they all have shared experiences which allows them to come together and feel a sense of connection and belonging. In that space, they can be vulnerable enough to talk about their traumas and learn what it means to live as a productive and integral member of a community.
Individualized Housing Dorms at the O’Daniel Unit
G3 Faith-Based Dorm: A 12-month faith-based program facilitated by Prison Fellowship Academy that focuses on bible studies, trauma care, and community building activities.
Faith-Based Dorm: A 15-month faith-based program facilitated by Discipleship Unlimited that focuses on bible studies, small group discussions, and community building activities.
Recovery Housing Opportunity Dorm (RHOP): Led by Peer Support Coaches, RHOP is an opportunity to improve character, elevate the mind, identify, and correct self-defeating behaviors and instill the value of self-examination, which will create a servant-leader mentality as participants build the road to long-term sobriety and restoration.
The Transitional Dorm: Based on the Cognitive Life Skills program and led by life coaches, the Transitional Dorm is a place that encourages participants to improve their ways of thinking, practice healthy decision-making and problem-solving strategies and strengthen their interpersonal communication skills. The goal is to inspire individual growth and positive change.
Service Through Action Reveals Strength (S.T.A.R.S.) Dorm: This dorm houses 34 female veterans from all branches of the military. Women are members of the unit honor guard and participate in training service animals for veterans through the Patriot PAWS Program. The mission of the S.T.A.R.S Veteran Reentry program is to prepare veteran participants for reentry through a fostered rehabilitative social environment where each woman is working towards the goal of reentering their community.
Strength Through Restoration, Independence, Vision, and Empowerment (STRIVE) Dorm: The STRIVE Dorm houses women who are participating in the 12-week STRIVE program which focus on communication, trauma and abuse, coping mechanisms, and relationships.
In collaboration with the Windham School District, the program also provides education and skills training to empower participants to achieve their goals. This collaborative effort has resulted in residents securing employment prior to their release.
The recently renamed Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit sits on the outskirts of Gatesville. With a capacity of 644 inmates, the unit houses females of all custody levels. There are six unique housing dorms within the unit that were created to serve the individualized needs of specific populations such as veterans or those overcoming substance use. For just over 200 of those women, that housing is more than just a cell; it’s a community.
