With your support, Second Chance helps provide the training and resources necessary to break the cycle of recidivism, poverty and addiction. Services are based on established best practices in the field of behavioral health and training is designed to economically empower marginalized populations through positive career pathways.
Access
Second Chance works to address the full spectrum of hierarchal needs including physical and mental health, childcare, legal services among others. Each participant receives a thorough needs assessment and help navigating the often complex systems necessary to access benefits to programs such as CalFresh, CalMedical, affordable housing and access to other non-profit programs.
Education
Incarcerated men and women generally have a lower level of education than the general population.
Select programs help participant secure industry-recognized credentials. In partnership with San Diego Continuing Education, Second Chance also offers basic literacy, numeracy and earning high school equivalency education. Participants may also receive assistance with enrolling in post-secondary education and vocational training.
Employment
A criminal background significantly impacts a person’s lifetime earnings and represents obstacles that make self-sufficiency seemingly impossible.
Second Chance workforce readiness programs helps each person overcome these obstacles by developing the skills essential to success in the job market and society.
Housing
Formerly incarcerated individuals are almost 10 times more likely to be homeless than the general public. Second Chance owns and operates five transitional sober-living homes. These supervised alcohol/substance-free properties provide a safe, stable living environment. Structure, staff and peer-driven accountability inspires personal responsibility, restores self-esteem and eliminates isolation by creating a community atmosphere with the ultimate goal of independent living.
Behavioral
Health
In partnership with UC San Diego and through practices based in cognitive behavioral therapy, Second Chance helps clients to identify the triggers and risks associated with their past thinking and behavioral patterns, allowing them to redefine themselves and their peer identities.