Preparing for reentry can be a challenging and overwhelming task, which is why CoreCivic works to provide justice-involved individuals the tools and resources necessary to be successful upon their return to society. One of these resources is a pilot program at CoreCivic's Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy, Arizona, called the Peer Life Coaching Program.

This program is produced and led by the non-profit Reentry Coaching Academy, also known as ReCA. It consists of three weeks of intensive peer life coaching training, where resident participants learn everything from positive communication strategies to habit tracking and guided meditation. Experts at ReCA say a core aspect of life coaching is understanding that the participant is the expert in their own lives, and it's the coach's role to create a safe space and ask questions with curiosity so participants can discover and design their authentic, best selves.

Each week of life coaching training has a distinct purpose.

During the first week, resident participants begin to learn more about themselves. They focus on their own personality traits and communication styles, mindsets, and habits. With this information, they learn to be more mindful of how these attributes affect their decision making and how to nurture positive attributes over negative ones.

By the second week, resident participants learn fundamental life coaching techniques. This includes how to actively listen, ask questions with curiosity, and maintain a judgment-free zone. They also learn how to build a curriculum and facilitate discussions.

In the third and final week, resident participants apply the tools they learned in a controlled space. They take part in group projects where they are assessed on their ability to utilize life coaching and facilitation techniques to lead classes and workshops for the growth of their peers at CoreCivic's Saguaro facility. Upon successful completion of the program, participants earn a certificate through ReCA and can proceed to lead life coaching sessions among their peers.

The ReCA program has been piloted at Saguaro since 2023. The first cohort of trained resident life coaches have successfully completed the program, earning certificates. Now, they will serve as trainers to the second cohort.