By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County’s YWCA is launching a new program to help women who have experienced incarceration.

The program is called ‘strive’ and aims to help those formally behind bars with transitional housing and mentorship.

“The overall vision and goal of the program is to reduce recidivism,” Alicia Whitworth, YWCA Director of Development and Public Relations. “We do that through transition housing, where women can live for up to two years. (Our program also provides) mentoring, economic and employment services, outreach, and case management also through YWCA strive.”

According to Whitworth, as clients come out of prison, they face various barriers, including stigmas and the lack of skill to obtain a job.

“We found that many of our (inaudible) clients were struggling to obtain gainful employment. There are many soft skills and technology skills that are gained as one goes through different fields of employment. And if you have experienced incarceration for X-number of years, or a period of your life where you would have otherwise obtained those soft skills, you are really at a disadvantage.”

The program is free for individuals struggling to secure or retain living wage employment.

To find out more information, visit ywcamclean.org.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].