Incarcerated Female Service Members to Gain Confidence and Skills for Reentry to Employment and Society
Leap to Success is proud to announce the receipt of an $18,500 Grant Award from the San Diego Gas and Electric Helping People In Need Initiative. On September 11, 2013 Leap to Confidence, a pilot program for the Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar for Female Service Members will launch and be funded by this grant award.
The Leap to Confidence training class will meet the needs that female service members have for improving their attitudes, beliefs, and communication skills so they can be productive during their incarceration, and upon their release. By increasing confidence, developing new ways to think and communicate, and learning public speaking skills (which are known to be one of most people’s greatest fears), the women will be able to share their experience and skills with potential employers. They will perform better during job interviews and in the workplace. In their personal relationships, they will be able to more positively and successfully speak for themselves and their children’s needs.
Michelle V. Davis, Reentry Coordinator, Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar states “The women confined at NCBM will benefit from your Leap to Confidence course because many of them committed their crimes during a time of low self-esteem. Learning confidence building tools that they can use when they reenter society will help them become better mothers, daughters, employees, and citizens. The Leap to Confidence course will complement the treatment they are currently receiving.”
Leap to Success has provided Women’s Empowerment special events to the Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar over the past four years. Instructors have taught life-changing tools and skills and graduates have shared their personal stories of rebuilding their lives from domestic violence, homelessness, incarceration, addiction and other tough challenges.
“Many of the women at the Brig are victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse who have fled their homes and joined the military to serve our Country. Leap to Success has offered this program very successfully to over 200 non-incarcerated domestic violence survivors and homeless women. We believe it will be equally beneficial to a group of incarcerated women. This pilot program will provide the opportunity to test that theory,” states Dana Bristol-Smith, Executive Director.
The program will provide six-weekly sessions and three monthly follow up classes by highly experienced trainers and coaches. Skill building sessions will help the women restore their hope and be equipped to secure employment for a better life upon their release.
About Leap to Success
Based in Carlsbad, California Leap to Success provides training and coaching services to women who are rebuilding their lives from domestic violence and homelessness. Leap to Success is awaiting its Declaration of tax exempt status from the IRS. In the interim, The Rancho Santa Fe Foundation is acting as the Fiscal Sponsor – Tax ID # 95-3709639.
