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November 10, 2006
Press Release – ReadyMinds and Offender Aid and Restoration of Richmond, Inc. Launch Pilot Providing Personalized Career Services to Ex- Offenders
Richmond, VA, November 10, 2006 – Offender Aid and Restoration of Richmond, Inc. (OAR) announced today its partnership with ReadyMinds, the global provider of choice for individualized distance-based career counseling. A multi-phase pilot project is being launched effective today, involving the provision of immediate career counseling services to a select group of post-release OAR clients. Future career counseling services will be delivered to additional selected OAR clients. All counseling during this pilot phase is being provided pro bono by ReadyMinds in an effort to demonstrate the organization’s strong interest in and commitment to helping ex-offenders achieve their individual career goals.
The mission of OAR is to provide community managed services aimed at restoring the individual offender as a responsible member of the community. As part of this mission, OAR helps individuals who have been incarcerated to obtain and maintain gainful employment. ReadyMinds is uniquely designed to augment the current services being offered.
Ms. Barbara Slayden, executive director of OAR, expressed a great deal of excitement about the pilot project and the ultimate partnership. Ms Slayden commented, “I am very pleased about this opportunity and specifically working with ReadyMinds. The ReadyMinds Program will allow those associated with OAR to receive professional and personalized services, in addition to the services that we provide, delivered to them in a manner that will be convenient for each participant’s situation. I envision many positive outcomes as a result of this program.”
Through the ReadyMinds distance model, individuals transitioning from incarceration to the community will be able to benefit from individualized, comprehensive career guidance through their involvement with a professionally trained ReadyMinds Counselor. This service will be provided to clients with the direct support and involvement of staff at OAR.
Randy Miller, President and CEO of ReadyMinds, expressed enthusiasm for the pilot project and the new partnership, stating, “I am pleased that we are in a position to offer this initial pilot program to OAR. The pilot has been carefully designed for both short and long term success. Our goal is to demonstrate the validity of and extraordinary need for personalized career counseling services for the ex-offender population. We believe evidence will support the value of distance-based career counseling in reducing recidivism and allowing for successful and long term re-entry into the workforce by OAR clients. We additionally see this leading initiative between OAR and ReadyMinds as an excellent demonstration of the need for more nationwide partnerships in this area, with large-scale positive results.”
The initial phase of the partnership will include the aforementioned pilot project involving selected individuals receiving services at OAR. Upon successful completion of this phase, a more wide-ranging plan will be developed to offer and deliver ReadyMinds services to all OAR clients in need of comprehensive career assistance.
About ReadyMinds
Founded in 1997, ReadyMinds owns and operates readyminds.com and is a privately held company that has emerged as the leading global provider of distance career counseling and training services. The ReadyMinds' distance career counseling process was initially designed with the assistance of business leaders and career counseling experts to help individuals focus on their career planning and develop action plans to achieve their immediate career goals. In addition to the counseling of individuals, ReadyMinds provides training for counselors seeking to further enhance their professional development in the area of distance counseling. ReadyMinds abides by the guidelines set forth by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the NBCC Code of Ethics and the Standards for the Ethical Practice of Web Counseling. For more information on the company, please visit http://www.readyminds.com.
For additional media information, please contact media@readyminds.com
About Offender Aid and Restoration of Richmond, Inc.
Offender Aid and Restoration of Richmond, Inc. (OAR) is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization offering post-release services to individuals transitioning to the community from local jails, state correctional institutions, and federal institutions. Services offered include transportation assistance to job interviews and jobs, housing assistance, employment skills classes, job search and goal setting assistance, and incentives for keeping a job, in addition to many other services. The first OAR program was established by Colonel Jay Worrall in Roanoke, Virginia in 1971. This pilot program marked the beginning of a statewide effort to meet the needs of offenders through the use of citizen volunteers and community groups. An Offender Aid and Restoration Advisory Board was formed in Richmond in 1971 and the Rev. Robert L. Mordhorst was hired as the first director. The OAR Advisory Board was incorporated in 1974 as Offender Aid and Restoration of Richmond, Inc. OAR receives volunteer support, funding and in-kind services from businesses, churches, state and local government, United Way Services, foundations and many individuals. With a staff of 18 and over 100 volunteers, OAR provides services to approximately 4000 clients per year, approximately half of whom are seeking assistance transitioning to the community after incarceration.
For more information about Offender Aid and Restoration of Richmond, Inc., please visit: http://www.oarric.org/.
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Attention Media!
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For more information on ReadyMinds, or to schedule
an interview with our founder and CEO, Randy Miller, contact
us at media@ReadyMinds.com
or (888) 225-8248. |
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