Transitions Program

About the Program

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

Year: 2016

The Transitions Program housed within the California Institution for Men and the California Institution for Women, is a collaborative effort between the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB), and the California Department of Corrections Rehabilitative (CDCR) Programs. The Transitions Program was created to offer offenders employment preparation and financial literacy skills, ensuring successful reentry into society upon their release from prison. Studies maintain that the most common need for the ex-offender population above housing, substance abuse treatment, medical care, and basic needs, is employment. Most offenders lack the skills required to seek and obtain substantial employment. The Transitions Program understands the importance of unsubsidized employment, and the direct impact it has on reducing the recidivism rate. Since November of 2014, the WDB and CDCR, have partnered on this unique and innovative Transitions Program to provide nearly 1,000 offenders with employability skills training and resources including, but not limited to, referrals to the America’s Job Centers in the County of residence, child support information, social security and identifying documents, housing, education, financial literacy and hope of a seamless transition, after release, into society.