Re-Entry Adult & Family Services
The Reentry Resource Center offers services to formerly incarcerated Santa Clara County residents, supporting reentry efforts and building a safer community. Their Vision is to build safer communities and strengthen families through successful reintegration and reentry of formerly incarcerated individuals back into Santa Clara County and their Mission is to reduce recidivism by using evidence-based practices in implementing a seamless system of services , supports, and supervision.
Beginnings
This program first started as a casual conversation in 2019 between Javier Aguirre, Director of the Office of Diversion and Reentry Services (DRS), and Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, County Superintendent of Schools. They identified a population that was underserved in both the County of Santa Clara Office of Re-Entry (ORS) and the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE). That population was identified as parolees that needed to obtain their high school diploma but were faced many challenges because they were adults.
Challenge Accepted Program
With this new partnership between ORS and SCCOE, "Challenge Accepted" was born to provide educational services to this population of adults. A new classroom was created, staffed with an educator tasked with building a program designed specifically for these adults. At the end of the first year, this program became very popular and successful that the program needed to expand. A new position was created to help families navigate the education system. The Coordinator of Justice and Family Education was created to helps families navigate the education system for adults and their families. Specialized coaching support for the justice engaged transitional youth ages 18-25 is provided.
Justice Family Education Program
The Justice Family Education Program is one of the first in the country to provide both a County Office of Education school-site program within re-entry buildings, but also our coaching program for SB 823 (DJJ and Secure Track) clients, setting standards across the country on new solutions-based approaches to preventing recidivism.
This program offer:
- Free high school diploma attainment at Challenge Accepted School
- One-on-One coaching and academic advisor for those looking to pursue high education needs
- Whole family advocacy and support
