CONTACT: Janet Younkin

761-0600, X204 or jyounkin@wjcs.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Volunteer Mentors Sought to Help Women Released

from County Jail Get a ‘Fresh Start’

WHITE PLAINS, Aug. 17 -- Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) seeks volunteers for its Fresh Start Mentoring Program for women newly released from the Westchester County Department of Corrections. The day-long training for new mentors will be on Wednesday, September 19 Oct. 31, 2007 from 9AM –3 PM at Department of Corrections Headquarters in Valhalla.

Fresh Start provides transitional support to incarcerated women who will soon be re-entering the community. While completing an eight-week support program the women are matched with the mentors, meet prior to their release and continue that weekly relationship for six to ten months. An effective after-care component to release, mentors help the women achieve their transition goals such as finding a job, housing or educational program. The mentors also provide support to help avoid recidivism.

The WJCS staff is the liaison to this relationship and is apprised of the progress of the mentees. Any women interested in becoming a mentor and providing this very special support to make a difference in someone's life can contact Fresh Start Mentoring Program Director Lenore Rosenbaum at 761-0600, X308 or lrosenbaum@wjcs.com.

Fresh Start is a partnership among the Office of the Westchester County Executive, Andrew J. Spano, Westchester Jewish Community Services’ Center for Women’s Issues; the Westchester County Office for Women, Department of Correction and Department of Social Services.