Education Services

Many Safer Foundation clients have not completed high school. In order to help them become more competitive on the job market, Safer provides a series of educational programs.

Safer Foundation's education services help clients become more marketable when searching for jobs.

GED Programming

Safer's innovative educational programs increase literacy skills, help clients obtain GEDs, and teach basic life skills.

Safer is an official GED testing site for the State of Illinois. Clients at the Adult Transition Centers, PACE, Youth Education Program and Harvey Employment and Learning Center can study for and take their GED.   

Job Readiness

A key component to Safer's programming is its weekly job readiness class.  Many of Safer's clients lack the skills necessary to be competitive on the job market.  These skills include interviewing, workplace etiquette, and the ability to appropriately address their backgrounds.  This educational model encourages clients to network with each other and their instructors to search for and obtain employment. 

PACE Institute

As a division of the Safer Foundation Educational Services Department, the PACE Institute provides adult literacy and GED preparation to Cook County Department of Corrections (CCDOC) detainees who voluntary request to improve upon their educational level. MORE >

Youth Education Program

Safer Foundation's education program provides clients between 16 and 21 years of age the academic tools and job readiness training needed to succeed and become productive members of society. MORE >

SPISE

Safer Foundation teamed with the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and local community colleges to form SPISE, a multi-year project aimed at providing parolees with both pre- and post-release job readiness and placement services. MORE >

  • Watch and Listen
    • WGN People to People, August 14, 2010: WGN visits a Safer Foundation job… MORE >

    • Medill Reports Chicago, March 7, 2010: The City of Chicago is… MORE >

    • WTTW Chicago Tonight, October 14, 2009: Finding a job is never easy in a… MORE >

  • Headlines
    • Diane Williams receives Champion of Change Award from the White House:… MORE >

    • Foundation puts ex-cons to work: The Chicago Tribune features Safer Foundation during the holiday… MORE >

    • New Program for Those Just Released from Prison: Rockford's WIFR examines local reentry programs,… MORE >

  • Reentry Resources
    • Reentry and Criminal Justice Resources MORE >

    • Safer Foundation Documents MORE >

    • Safer Foundation Fact Sheets MORE >

  • Public Policy
    • Public Policy: After 30 years of providing direct services to people… MORE >

    • Council of Advisors to Reduce Recidivism through Employment (CARRE): In… MORE >

  • Success Stories
    • Nadeja Beasley: Nadeja Beasley had 10 long years to think about some… MORE >

    • Jay Borchert: Jay Borchert can proudly say he’s been clean for five… MORE >

    • Juan Cruz: Juan Cruz once lived the life of a gangbanger on the streets… MORE >

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