How it works
The road from here.
Nine phases from first contact to lasting employment. You always know which one you're standing on, and what comes next.
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Phase 1Complete Interest Form
A short interest form — online or by phone — so we know who you are and how to reach you.
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Phase 2Assessment
We talk through your goals, skills, and situation to see which pathways fit.
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Phase 3Orientation
Learn how the program works: what it offers, what it asks of you, and the guidelines that keep your stipend in place.
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Phase 4Intake with Navigator
You're connected with your navigator and build your plan together — written down, with dates.
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Phase 5Career Readiness
Résumé, interview preparation, and learning to talk about your record with confidence.
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Phase 6Training
You enroll with the training partner and show up. Your navigator helps you clear the friction along the way.
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Phase 7Credentialing
Finish with a license or certification employers already recognize.
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Phase 8Job Placement
Introductions to employers who hire our graduates, with support through offers and onboarding.
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Phase 9Employment Retention
Hired and working — we stay in contact through your first year on the job, closest in the early months when placements are most fragile.
Before the first call
Bring what you have.
Nothing on this list is required to talk to us. If you have any of it, the first meeting moves faster. If you have none of it, that is the first thing we work on.
- 01 A phone number where we can reach you
- 02 Photo ID, if you have one
- 03 Release or discharge paperwork
- 04 Your probation or parole officer's contact information
- 05 Upcoming court dates
- 06 Any training or work history you're proud of
What we ask
Three things.
Show up. Attendance is the single strongest predictor of finishing. Training partners hold seats for our participants and we need to fill them.
Tell us early. When something goes sideways — housing, transportation, a court date, a relapse — call before it costs you the program, not after. Almost everything is fixable with notice.
Stay reachable through your first year. After you're placed, keep answering the phone — especially in the early months, when a small problem can become a lost job.
Working with us is your choice, and what you share stays with us — we coordinate with your probation or parole officer only when you ask us to.
Common questions
Straight answers.
Does my conviction disqualify me?
No. Our program is geared towards helping people with convictions obtain certifications in fields that offer second chance employment.
What does it cost me?
Nothing to talk to us. For training costs, we work to cover them through public workforce funding, training partner scholarships, and our own program funds. On top of that, participants in good standing receive a stipend while in training — see below. What we can cover depends on the pathway and on funding available at the time, so ask on the first call and we'll be specific rather than vague.
Can I start before I'm released?
Yes, and it's better that way. Planning ahead of release means ID, enrollment, and transportation can be lined up for the week you come home instead of two months later. Reach out yourself or have a reentry staff member refer you.
I've been out for a while. Can I still join?
Yes. The door stays open however long you've been home — whether you were released last month or years ago. If you're ready to move into a trade, the same pathways, the same stipend, and the same navigation are available to you. Start with the same phone call as everyone else.
How long does training take?
It varies by pathway and by training partner. Commercial driving is the shortest path to a paycheck; HVAC and IT run longer and lead into careers with more room to grow. Your navigator will give you the current schedule for the pathway you choose.
Do you help with housing?
Yes, two ways. We have a limited number of beds where participants can stay for up to six months while in training. Because space is limited and fills quickly, we also refer to sober living operators and reentry housing partners across Santa Clara County. Either way, raise housing on the first call — the earlier we know, the more options are open.
Is there a stipend?
Yes. Participants receive a stipend for up to 12 months while enrolled in their vocational training program, as long as they remain in compliance with program guidelines. Your navigator will walk you through the current stipend details and exactly what the guidelines require before you enroll, so there are no surprises about what keeps it in place.
I'm a case manager. How do I refer someone?
Have your client complete the interest form — the Get Started button at the top of every page leads straight to it. You're welcome to fill it out together during a session, and we follow up with them directly from there. If a call works better, the same phone number handles everything.
Phase 1 starts with a short interest form.
Reach out and we'll get it to you — no commitment, no wrong question.