COLUMBUS, Ohio — Hundreds of Ohioans searching for second chances are getting some help on their journey.

The Central Ohio Restored Citizens Collaborative hosted its annual summit Thursday at the Center for Workforce Development.

The event provided workshops and information from more than 50 organizations offering housing, health care, recovery and other support to those re-entering society following incarceration.

“It tells a person, ‘Okay, you made a mistake,’” said Patrice Palmer, who helped plan the event. “’You made poor choices. But it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person and I’m not going to throw you away. But we’re going to support you. We’re going to help you get to where you need to go.’ So, this is very much needed.”

She’s speaking from personal experience. She began her last sentence in 2003.

“I’ve been home 22 years and when I came home, there were not a lot of resources for reentry or to help people because we were deemed as having no value,” she said.

Upon release, Palmer earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from The Ohio State University. She now makes it her mission to help others make successful transitions.

“Good people make poor choices, but it doesn’t mean they’re a bad person,” she said. “And they shouldn’t have to wear the scarlet letter for the rest of their life.”

This is the 12th year for the Restored Citizens Summit. Organizers said about 560 people pre-registered to attend the event.