Forward Direction

More than another program. A real future.

We offer formerly incarcerated youth a pathway toward a purposeful life through stable housing, sustained mentorship, and committed community.

WHO WE ARE

Youth leaving detention face steep odds without the right support — here's what the data shows.

Nearly 1 in 3 Arizona youth released from state juvenile facilities return to custody within a year — and more than half do so within three years. Nationally, up to 80% of incarcerated youth are rearrested within three years of release. Without support, the system becomes a revolving door. (Source→)
As many as 1 in 4 young people with a history of juvenile justice involvement experience homelessness. Leaving detention without stable housing is often the first domino that topples everything else — safety, school, work, and so on. (Source→)
Young adults with criminal legal histories worked an average of only 35.8 weeks in the first full year after release, compared to 45.7 weeks for peers with no incarceration or arrest history — nearly 10 fewer weeks of work. (Source→)
84% of youth in juvenile facilities report having used drugs, and 60% meet the clinical criteria for a substance use disorder. Yet only about a third access behavioral health treatment in the critical six months after release. (Source→)
About 1 in 3 detained girls will experience a teen pregnancy — more than double the general rate — and more than half of justice-involved youth overall report having been or gotten someone pregnant by age 17. Without guidance, young women exit the system facing parenthood before they've had the chance to finish school or build a career, compounding every other barrier they face. (Source→)

Bridging the gap.

The Problem

Up to 80% of youth who are incarcerated in the US are rearrested within 36 months of their release because they faced homelessness or returned to unstable housing, disrupted education, lack of employment, and unsafe people and environments.
The Solution

These youth need physical safety, healthy relationships, and supportive guidance to build a healthy life, possibly for the first time. Forward Direction opens the door to a new future through mentorship, stable housing, life and career skills, and lasting community.
The Impact

With 80+ years of collective experience, we are able to provide the resources, relationships, and stability needed by these young adults to decrease their risk of returning to prison and equip them to reenter society on a path toward a purposeful and productive life.

Research in trauma recovery— including by experts Judith Herman and Matthew Desmond—shows that individuals cannot effectively rebuild their lives until safety and stability are established, primarily through secure housing and supportive relationships.
We partner with programs already in operation to reach young people faster with the life-giving support of caring mentorship, during their time in detention and after their release.
Our social and spiritual support network provide the necessary healthy relationships for building a successful life after incarceration, which includes life skills development, career planning and sustained community connections.
TBD

What’s happening.

> A caring Mentor
> Weekly chapel teaching
> Relationship-building prior to release
> Transition preparation
> Healthy peer community
> Positive social activities
> Faith connections
> Leadership development
Youth exiting detention would enter a structured group home environment staffed by resident advisors employed by Forward Direction.
Features:
> Safe housing with curfews and accountability
> Structured routines
> Life skills training
> Mentoring support
> Employment or school requirements

Each participant receives a support team (“Table”) using the the Open Table model consisting of volunteers from the community.
Support categories:
> Education / Career
> Personal finance
> Healthcare
> Transportation / Insurance
> Social support / Community life
> Mentoring
Participants transition to apartments staffed by Apartment Life after their first year:
Goals:
• Independent living
• Continued mentorship
• Community integration
• Job stability
• Education completion
We partner with a number of local colleges and universities throughout Arizona.
Opportunities:
> Start college classes before release
> Connect with Admissions Counselors early
> Use state foster education funding
> Join programs for youth exiting foster care in the various universities

“The first time I left juvenile detention, I had no place to land and ended up right back in a cell. After connecting with Sue, I knew that I’d never go back to the life I was living before.”
“I have fallen, I have been knocked down, and I have never stayed on the ground… Jail is something that can teach you that if you go through it, you can change, and a new life, you can start, to be able to help all people.”
“My mentor from Forward Direction never talked down to me. That meant so much. She was the first person in my life that really showed me our community cares about me.”