Breaking Barriers is A Success

Glendale Reentry Center

The first Breaking Barriers pilot program began in January of 2011. Fresh Start Community Services began by providing classes through the TIPS program (Transitional Information Program Services). Twice a week mentors from Fresh Start would hold and informal class at the West side Maricopa Workforce Connections site. Throughout the first four months (January through April) TIPS helped 29 participants with criminal records with informational resources for job readiness. With a success of job placement for 17% of our clients we began exploring the possibility of a curriculum based program.

Seeing the need to expand the program Fresh Start CSI collaborated with Maricopa Work Force Center to create the now Fresh Start-Breaking Barriers pilot program. These classes offered people with criminal records the opportunity to learn basic soft skills, computer basics, the essentials of employment success, resume and job readiness curriculum based classes. Participants attended MWC and Breaking Barriers workshops. Two groups of classes consisted of 24 graduates. Upon completion of the program, six of the graduates from each class had full time employment on graduation day.

Fresh Start CSI would like to thank Maricopa Workforce Connections for their help in development of this program and the continued support toward our common goal- working as a collaborative catalyst regarding the issues and needs of people with criminal records who re-enter society. The program is no longer offered by MWC but has since continued within the Fresh Start Reentry Center.

An exciting component to this initiative is community involvement. The goal of the Breaking Barriers program is to further facilitate smooth community re-entry and to provide a mechanism for community and restorative justice. Case management and continued assistance with breaking barriers to successful re-entry are provided for these participants, their families, and the community at the Fresh Start Reentry Center.

Fresh Start- Breaking Barriers is now a curriculum based program made available to community services and organizations. Trainers will come to your facility and train your facilitators in this much needed service. If you would like more information on the Breaking Barriers program please contact us for details.

If you would like to become involved as a volunteer or a mentor contact: Lin@fresh-start.org  or Lin @ 623-931-2801.