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COMMUNITY WORKSCommunity Works/West (CWW) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the arts and education as a catalyst for change among underserved populations in the San Francisco Bay Area. |
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The San Francisco Sheriff's Department |
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The San Francisco Sheriff's Department under the leadership of Sheriff Michael Hennessey will be the first Law Enforcement agency to provide direct practical and emotional support services to women coming out of jail or prison. The new reentry and restorative justice center is located at 930 Bryant Street and is scheduled to open in early summer. Women re-entering the community typically experience profound disparities in access to health care, education and other life sustaining services compared to the general population, will be able to access these services immediately. Community Works is partnering with the San Francisco Sheriff's Department in helping to open the center and will be one of the agencies providing services to women at the facility. The Center’s first phase is renovating the building that will include the actual women who will benefit from this center. The women recently released from jail will be provided the opportunity to learn the trades, which will enable them to move forward with self determination while also providing an important restorative justice service by giving back to the community that they harmed. To date, over 200 people in the private sector have committed in-kind services and philanthropic support for the renovation that will make this building habitable. This resource center will be unique as it will alleviate a great deal of the current local negotiation and issues that the DA, the Mayor’s office and local women's groups are grappling with surrounding the dearth of services that respond to the needs of incarcerated women and their families. |
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The projected outcome will be twofold: 1) The Sheriff's project will galvanize and engage businesses, law enforcement and other workers to unite to invest in the success of individuals and the community at large and 2) Meet the needs of a population in dire need of the services of many different communities, i.e., labor, business, recovery, education and the like. 3. Employment: studies and training in traditional and nontraditional jobs and career development that include: construction and building design and apprenticeships on the actual renovation of 930 Bryant, culinary and food industries, cosmetology and others to be determineda. In Career Development the groups will work on resume preparation, job search strategies and interview techniques and retention. 4. Education: basic and advanced education is vital to successful reentry. The women will be able to participate in continuing education via the Sheriff's 5 Keys Charter High School and/or City College, SF State or other vocational, educational agencies that are responsive to the students needs.a. Included in the education component will be the Computer class and self-directed learning lab offering basic computer instruction in a small, non-intimidating environment as well as a group classroom setting. 5. The Parenting education will assist in the mother's skill building to help her child's self-esteem, healthy communication and other skills to rebuild a quality relationship with her child. 6. Support groups and mentorship: Virtually every study validates that both peer support and mentorship via the faith or secular communities significantly contributes to successful reentry. 7. Mental health services that include PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)8. Relapse prevention: Ongoing services to include 12 steps, faith based and/or TC models will be available9. Restorative Justice ---with an emphasis on Survivor restoration and empowerment services |
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Components of the Internship Program: In-Jail Component During incarceration, interns will be identified as they participate in general education, job development, life skills, case management, and/or substance abuse classes while incarcerated. Program curriculum is designed to hold offenders accountable for their actions, while restructuring the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that fuel criminal behavior and repairing the harm caused to their victims and communities. Post Release Component Upon release, interns receive counseling and support in substance abuse, parenting, and life skills. The participants continue with their program’s curriculum, while also receiving support with a guided employment search. Participants are asked to meet in weekly support groups with a licensed facilitator who addresses basic therapeutic and life skills issues. Internship Training Program Interns complete a six-month training curriculum through which they are trained to work as facilitators/case managers in the field of human services or in the trades or business industry. Interns use their personal experience and acquired knowledge to make a positive impact on their community, while gaining valuable work experience that will lead to more permanent placement in a rewarding career. |
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The major contributors: Hanson Bridgett Leadership SF Orlanda Wilson and Rebuilding Together SF DASSE Design Inc. Structural Engineers of Northern California |
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