After a successful pilot, Dismas Charities partners with The Change Companies to bring individualized, digital-first programming to justice-involved individuals.

CARSON CITY, Nev. and LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dismas Charities, one of the nation's largest providers of residential reentry services, is expanding its use of the Atlas digital behavioral health platform to 40 sites nationwide following a successful pilot. Atlas is developed by The Change Companies, creators of Interactive Journaling®, an evidence-based practice that promotes positive behavioral change through psychoeducation, reflective questions, goal-setting and expressive writing. Research on Interactive Journaling demonstrates that it increases employment and housing stability post-release, enhances substance use recovery, improves behavior and reduces recidivism.

Atlas expands access to Interactive Journaling® curricula while adding robust measurement, reporting, and AI-augmented case note development tools for staff.

Over a 90-day pilot period, Dismas Charities participants completed nearly 500 hours of engagement across 1,200 sessions using Atlas. 80% of activated participants remained engaged, exploring self-guided content on topics like mental health, anger management, parenting, medication management, recovery maintenance, and goal-setting – key focus areas for individuals reintegrating into society.

"We believe in putting the power of change directly into the hands of each individual," said Nico Gimenez, Co-CEO of The Change Companies. "Our partnership with Dismas Charities demonstrates what's possible when evidence-based interventions meet smart digital tools. Atlas gives providers a flexible, clinically sound way to match the right intervention to the right person at the right time."

Participant feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. A post-pilot survey found that nearly 80% of participants felt Atlas helped them learn more about themselves – a key factor in supporting meaningful, lasting behavior change.

"Technology can be a powerful tool when it supports, not replaces, the human connection that's core to our work," said Ellen Donnarumma, President and CEO of Dismas Charities. "Atlas allows our staff to tailor programming in a way that's both scalable and deeply personalized."

Dismas Charities integrates risk-need assessments at intake and maps the results to targeted content in Atlas. A participant with elevated cognitive-behavioral needs, for example, might receive a Journal on responsible thinking alongside videos and podcasts on rational decision-making.

"Our staff are seeing how Atlas enhances their ability to meet clients where they are," added Faith Good, Chief Operating Officer at Dismas Charities. "The platform's flexibility makes it easy to embed into our daily programming, while still honoring the unique needs of each individual."

About The Change Companies
The Change Companies is the developer of Interactive Journaling®, an evidence-based practice recognized by SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. For over 35 years, The Change Companies has supported behavior change across addiction treatment, corrections, behavioral health, and community settings. Atlas, its digital behavioral health platform, expands access to these resources, offering individualized and engaging programming to justice-involved and treatment populations nationwide.

About Dismas Charities
Dismas Charities operates residential and non-residential reentry programs in communities across the U.S. Dedicated to "Healing the Human Spirit," Dismas delivers services that promote accountability, reduce recidivism, and support successful community reintegration for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Media Contact:
Valerie Bagley
vbagley@changecompanies.net
(888) 889-8866
www.changecompanies.net
www.dismas.com

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SOURCE The Change Companies