Our mission is to provide employee training and career development for formerly incarcerated individuals recently released from prison. In addition, we assist them is becoming self-sufficient so they can reunify their families, and help build strong communities, while lowering the recidivism rate.

Description:
The Dr. J. Alfred Smith Training Academy (DJASSTA) is a faith-based organization, with a comprehensive intervention designed to enable formerly incarcerated individuals develop employment skills through our 1)4-week work place Orientation training; 2)2-week Personal Responsibility [Mentoring]; 3)6-week Behavior Modification/Substance Abuse group. Our program includes: outreach, recruitment, developing collaborations with other community base organizations, and wrap around services. Additionally, we have a One-Stop Center, and GED lab for participants, and the community. DJASSTA has established an extremely positive working relationship with Parole and Probation Departments, Oakland Police Department, the California Department of Corrections, and the County Jails. These relationships allow us to conduct regular outreach and orientation sessions to inmates prior to release (180 days) and at the meeting required for parolees upon release. We receive direct referrals from Parole and Probation. Parole, Probation, the District Attorney's Office, and Alameda County Superior Court are all represented on the DJASSTA Advisory Board.
In order to ensure that our program participants have access to comprehensive array of needed services, DJASSTA has developed partnerships with other providers: Allen Temple Health and Social Services, which provides mental health counseling; East Bay Community Law Center, which provides legal assistance; Alameda County Department of Child Support Services, which provides on-site and off-site assistance to program participants to resolve outstanding child support-related issues, including reduction in orders, dealing with back payments, and order compliance; Wardrobe for Opportunity, which provides professional clothing and image consultation to participants; City of Oakland Measure Y Program (Project Choice)which is a major funder, Department of Labor: which is our main funder. By March 2008 we expect to enrolled 460 formerly incarcerated individuals. Graduate 180 non-violent ages 18 and above formerly incarcerated from the program, and place over 200 into employment. We do serve violent offenders through Project Choice ages 18 to 30.

History:
Over the course of its history, ATHEDCO has developed, operated and maintained four low income housing developments for seniors and persons disabled due to HIV/AIDS. ATHEDCO has also contracted with the San Francisco Foundation to provide technical assistance to other faith-based organizations seeking to develop services to meet the needs of their communities. In 2002, in response to an overwhelming need in the community, ATHEDCO established DJASSTA. The program was founded with established with funds received form the Governor's discretionary faith-based initiative, and in 2003, ATHEDCO was chosen as one of only 8 faith-based institutions nationally to receive funds through a joint program of Public/Private Ventures, the US Department of Labor, The US Department of Justice, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Our web-site is under construction.

Contact people:

Tina Humphrey, Program Director, (510) 567-1491, (email) Dolores Lyles, Assistant Director, (510) 567-1470, (email) Lisa Gray, (510) 567-1490, (email)

Office fax number: (510) 567-1474

Address:

8501 International Blvd. Bldg. A Oakland, CA 94621 (See a map)

Web Site: http://DJASSTA.org

Directions:

Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Collsium Bart,   Walk distance (in minutes): 6 miles   Nearest Bus Stop: 56 bus , 3 minute walk