Transition
Interfaith Prison Ministry for Women's transition services begin with chaplaincy programs and services, which offer life skills training and spiritual formation that serve as a foundation for readiness to receive and benefit from practical assistance.
JobStart
JobStart is a premier 16-week transitional education program designed to help women reunite with their families and transition into the community upon their release. Created by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety in 2001 as a prison-to-work program, participants learn concrete life and job skills including time and money management, social and self development, decision making, anger management and emotional regulation, the ins and outs of getting and keeping a job, training and education options and attention to other transition issues. Each woman has a 1:1 mentor who works with her and prison staff in developing and implementing a comprehensive post-transition plan.
JobStart is made possible by partnerships between IPMW and the following organizations:
The design of JobStart began in 1999 with a $1,600 grant to the Division of Prisons Administration from the Governor's Crime Commission for developing a prison-to-work transition program. The program was tested and implemented for both men and women at six pilot sites in North Carolina, and operates in one location today - Raleigh - taught by an inspiring instructor from Wake Technical Community College with support from IPMW staff. It is the only program of its kind for women held outside the prison and provides participants with tools they need to build a complete transitional plan for after their release. The course takes place at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Raleigh; participants take computer classes in the afternoons at the Raleigh Unit. Community volunteers serve as presenters and as mentors for the 10 women enrolled in each class, which are offered twice per year. Over the past 15 years, almost 280 women have graduated from this program.
Upon graduating from JobStart, participants are eligible to move into JAGS (Job Accountability Group Support), which focuses on the continued development of the women both personally and vocationally. IPMW leads "Transition Night" each month, utilizing a group-mentoring model to address the skills, tools, relationships and resources necessary to aid them in their post-release success.
JobStart
JobStart is a premier 16-week transitional education program designed to help women reunite with their families and transition into the community upon their release. Created by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety in 2001 as a prison-to-work program, participants learn concrete life and job skills including time and money management, social and self development, decision making, anger management and emotional regulation, the ins and outs of getting and keeping a job, training and education options and attention to other transition issues. Each woman has a 1:1 mentor who works with her and prison staff in developing and implementing a comprehensive post-transition plan.
JobStart is made possible by partnerships between IPMW and the following organizations:
- NC Department of Public Safety
- NCCIW Raleigh Unit
- Wake Technical Community College
- First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh
- Volunteers from various faith communities, service providers, agencies and businesses
The design of JobStart began in 1999 with a $1,600 grant to the Division of Prisons Administration from the Governor's Crime Commission for developing a prison-to-work transition program. The program was tested and implemented for both men and women at six pilot sites in North Carolina, and operates in one location today - Raleigh - taught by an inspiring instructor from Wake Technical Community College with support from IPMW staff. It is the only program of its kind for women held outside the prison and provides participants with tools they need to build a complete transitional plan for after their release. The course takes place at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Raleigh; participants take computer classes in the afternoons at the Raleigh Unit. Community volunteers serve as presenters and as mentors for the 10 women enrolled in each class, which are offered twice per year. Over the past 15 years, almost 280 women have graduated from this program.
Upon graduating from JobStart, participants are eligible to move into JAGS (Job Accountability Group Support), which focuses on the continued development of the women both personally and vocationally. IPMW leads "Transition Night" each month, utilizing a group-mentoring model to address the skills, tools, relationships and resources necessary to aid them in their post-release success.
