Re-Entry Support Program

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

The Re-Entry Support Program is a collaborative effort between the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) and the Fontana Police Department’s Re-entry Support Team. The Fontana Re-entry Support Team (FRST) was created to assist early release prisoners and probationers with successful re-assimilation into society. Recidivism is an on-going problem in dealing with the re-integration of previously incarcerated individuals. Nationally the rate at which this population re-offends and goes back into prison has been a staggering 75% or more. The FRST team conducted an assessment and found that the biggest issue for this population above food, medical care, substance abuse treatment, and housing was lack of employment. Keeping in mind the importance of employment as the means to self-sufficiency and successful re-integration, FRST reached out to the WIB to provide the employment services, job coaching, job search assistance and reconnection to the workforce that participants needed. Collaboratively since September of 2012, FRST and the WIB have provided 256 individuals with valuable resources including but not limited to: medical services, counseling, therapy, support groups, assistance with driver license and social security compliance, social services, shelter, education, occupational skills and employment. The program has placed over 106 clients in employment.