What Is the Fresh Start Program?
The Fresh Start Program is a 16-week professional development training program designed to give individuals an opportunity to gain skills in the workforce. Each program provides the same WRAC promise: skills, experience, and confidence that translate directly into job opportunities.
Whether you're re-entering the job market after incarceration or rebuilding your professional identity, this program helps you gain real-world experience that employers value.
The Fresh Start Umbrella
Re-Entry
Career
Pathways
This is for individuals with criminal justice involvement who are ready to re-enter the workforce and rebuild their professional identity after incarceration.
Professional
Empowerment for
DV Survivors
This is for survivors of domestic violence seeking a new beginning through financial independence, as well as individuals with work-history gaps caused by personal circumstances.
Career Training,
Reset &/OR
Renewal
This is for professionals facing long-term unemployment, underemployment, or major career pivots, such as former military personnel, and individuals who want to reskill or upskill for new industries like tech, administration, customer service, etc.
Who It's For?
-
Individuals with criminal justice involvement ready to re-enter the workforce
-
People looking to rebuild their professional identity after incarceration
Who It's For?
Requirements
-
Must be 18+ and legally eligible to work
-
Commitment to completing 16 weeks of training
-
Willingness to participate in coaching, remote projects, and skill-building
Requirements
Targeting & Outreach
-
Partnerships with re-entry nonprofits, parole/probation offices, and community organizations
-
Flyers and info sessions at halfway houses, community centers, and workforce boards
-
Employer partnerships with companies open to second-chance hiring
Targeting & Outreach
What
You'll
Gain.
Remote Work Experience
Resume-ready projects you can confidently list as real experience
Interview Coaching
Prep and mock sessions to ace your next interview
Professional Resume Writing
A fully optimized, employer-ready resume crafted for your goals
Skills Development Hands-on training in digital tools, teamwork, and communication
Option 1: Management Track Extension (24-32 Weeks)
-
Standard 16-week program PLUS additional 8-16 weeks focused on:
-
Team Leadership Experience
-
Project Management Responsibilities
-
Mentoring New Participants
-
Cross-department Collaboration
-
Budget and Resource Management Training
-
Option 2: Specialized Leadership Development (32–52 Weeks)
-
A full-year track with progressive responsibility:
-
Weeks 1–16: Core Fresh Start Program
-
Weeks 17–32: Team lead or supervisor roles
-
Weeks 33–52: Management training with real decision-making authority
-
