San Diego Second Chance Program

YOUTH SERVICES:Strive Forward Juvenile Justice Initiative focuses on supporting and addressing the educational and employment barriers faced by court-involved youth while helping them attain life-skills and in-demand occupational and employment skills needed to obtain livable wage jobs. The Second Chance Youth Garden provides young people (14-21) with a supportive, structured environment that helps to prepare them for success in the job market, high school, and higher education. Through paid transitional employment, youth receive job readiness training, learn positive communication skills, and engage in leadership training/development. Through hands-on, garden-based education, youth learn to seed, cultivate and harvest the fruits of their labor and share this bounty with the community through our neighborhood farm stands. In partnership with the San Diego County Juvenile Court and Community Schools, the program combines in-class and experiential learning to increase youth awareness of urban agriculture and food justice and help move them towards successful high school graduation. The Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program uses evidence based curricula and cognitive behavioral training to aid incarcerated youth.

HOUSING:The organization operates five sober living properties. Goals are to foster personal responsibility, restore self-esteem and self-confidence, and eliminate isolation by creating a community atmosphere with the ultimate goal of staying clean and sober while transitioning to independent living.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:Job Readiness Training provides four weeks of pre-employment attitudinal and soft-skill training, job search, job placement assistance and post-placement services to lead people to permanent employment and self-sufficiency. The Second Chance Job Center is a team-based case management program. Partnering with San Diego Sheriffs Department and San Diego County Probation, Second Chance staff delivers employment services at East Mesa Reentry Facility and Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility. The Job Centers expand upon services already offered by local government, community corrections and workforce development agencies by uniting resources to break the cycle of recidivism, build stronger communities and promote public safety.