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YOUNG ADULT EX-OFFENDERS CAN GET HELP TRANSITIONING FROM PRISON TO WORKPLACE THANKS TO ARIZONA WORKFORCE ORGANIZATION
AWEE Kicks Off
Choices for Changed Lives Program
PHOENIX, Ariz. (November 20, 2007)
-- Arizona Women’s Education & Employment (AWEE),
Arizona’s premier workforce development organization, today
announced the launch of Choices for Changed Lives, a new program
designed to help young adult ex-offenders successfully transition from
prison into the workplace and achieve a better quality of life.
AWEE’s doors are now open to serve clients who wish to
participate in this program, which is funded by a $1 million grant from
the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Choices for Changed Lives
program targets men and women between the ages of 18-29 years who are
exiting the state and federal (adult) prison system or have been
released to the community within prior two months. AWEE has begun
enrolling individuals and is working toward the goal of serving more
than 225 individuals during the next 11 months.
“Too many young lives are lost
to the penal system simply because recently incarcerated individuals
can’t find a viable alternative to criminal activity once they
return to their communities,” said Marie Sullivan, president and
CEO of AWEE. “Released prisoners face a myriad of challenges in
turning their lives around; including joblessness, which has been
broadly linked to recidivism rates. Choices for Changed Lives will
deliver a comprehensive and proven program of services that enables
younger ex-offenders to gain employment and achieve the sense of
dignity, self-worth and community pride that productive work can
provide.”
Choices for Changed Lives is
designed to address the critical social, psychological, familial and
educational issues that beset many younger ex-offenders as they
struggle to become productive members of their communities. Services
include career counseling, work readiness training, case management,
relapse prevention support groups for those contending with alcohol or
drug abuse, assistance with finding and keeping a good job, and a wide
variety of supportive services including help with transportation and
childcare expenses.
AWEE is one of only five
organizations in the country to receive the federal funding for the
Choices for Changed Lives Program and will serve as the primary partner
for social service delivery offering highly personalized support and a
direct link into the communities to which the ex-prisoners are
returning. This is a unique program as individuals can choose from
among six agencies under contract with AWEE to receive specialized
services. The partner agencies include faith-based and community
organizations delivering services that include religious elements as
well as secular services.
As the first step in the enrollment
process, AWEE is now offering Choices for Changed Lives Program
Orientations several times a week at locations throughout Phoenix and
at prisons within Maricopa County and surrounding areas. Individuals
and agencies are invited to call AWEE at (602) 223-4333 with questions
or to call (602) 223-4351 to reserve a seat at an upcoming orientation.
While AWEE has served women, men and
youth in their career development for nearly three decades, through a
now completed Women Living Free (WLF) program and an ongoing Paths to
Living Free (PLF) program, which continues to offer offered pre-and
post-release reentry services to male and female felons.
Currently, more than 600 released
inmates are thriving in their lives after prison as a result of help
from AWEE and its subcontractors under these programs. The ex-offender
population now comprises one-quarter of all individuals served by AWEE
in two Arizona counties.
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