A successful reentry begins inside correctional facilities and is dependent upon a community ready to foster a productive return. Breakthrough takes a holistic approach to community and person, and our in-facility program focuses on character development, job readiness, reentry planning, and the entrepreneurial mindset, providing an opportunity for holistic growth.
We currently offer our in-facility educational program in four prison facilities in Colorado: La Vista Women’s Correctional Facility, Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility, Colorado State Penitentiary, Centennial Correctional Facility, and Skyline Correctional Center.
We walk alongside our participants from the inside out through our four program offerings: The Challenge, The Transformation, The Return, and The Exemplar.
The Kickoff event is the very first introduction to the in-facility educational program ‘The Challenge’ for our people on the inside. At this event, participants and volunteers make new connections, and the requirements and learning objectives of The Challenge are introduced.The day is spent explaining the program, participating in network activities, and engaging in empathy-building exercises.
This second milestone highlights how participants have learned about their strengths, while stretching their areas of growth. Resumes, cover letters, and Breakthrough statements have been composed, and participants have created goals for their future. During the mocks, participants are given the opportunity to practice the skills they have learned by presenting their Breakthrough statement, getting feedback from volunteers on their resume, and participating in mock interview sessions to practice interviewing for employment.
In this third milestone event, participants have wrapped up the topics of Character Development, Job Readiness, and Reentry Planning to begin 16-weeks of curriculum on the Entrepreneurial Mindset. Prior to this event, participants learn the basics of business ideation and present their favorite business idea to a series of volunteers who serve a pitching coaches. By the end of the day, participants give an elevator pitch to all of the participants and volunteers. Volunteers are asked to vote on the business idea they believe to be the more marketable. Teams of participants are formed around the 5 business ideas with the most votes.
In this final milestone event of The Challenge program, participants have dedicated 32-weeks of their lives to transforming themselves. They have developed soft skills, honed interviewing and self-presentation, established long term goals, and worked in teams with their peers to build a business plan. At this event, 5 teams pitch their businesses to volunteers who vote on the most feasible idea, and each member of the winning team is awarded $300. At this celebratory event, the families and friends of our soon-to-be graduates attend to cheer on their loved ones and celebrate the journey they’ve been on to breakthrough to a better tomorrow.
The challenge
Our people’s journey with Breakthrough and our first program offering, The Challenge, begins inside prisons. The Challenge is a 32-week (8-month) program in which participants alter their lives and mindsets in difficult and vulnerable ways that enhance each individual’s Job Readiness, Character Development, Reentry Planning, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset.
The PATHWAY
Our 12-week program designed to equip participants with essential soft skills, career readiness, and reentry planning. The Pathway specifically targets individuals who are nearing release, offering them a focused, impactful experience that prepares them for a smooth transition back into the community.
The Transformation
Our in-facility alumni program allows opportunities for continued personal and professional development, facilitating the Breakthrough program on the inside, and providing guidance to current participants as they begin their transformational journey.
The Return
We welcome our people home and prioritize their stability in the community by helping them obtain and maintain stable employment while helping them to fill skill gaps as they embark on their chosen career path. We also connect them to trusted community partners specializing in food, housing, transportation, health care, mental health/substance abuse treatment, clothing, safety, and personal identification.
The Exemplar
This is the final stage of our participants journey once they have found stability. Our in-community alumni program provides care management services and facilitates further career development, personal growth, and entrepreneurial guidance, with access to our network of Fair Opportunity Employers.
Breakthrough welcomes participants into our program regardless of their sentence lengths, seeking individuals who are ready to transform their lives and are committed to becoming the best version of themselves. Our primary requirement is that participants possess a GED or high school diploma and have maintained a clean disciplinary record for at least six months. We are dedicated to supporting those who are determined to make positive changes and are eager to embrace the opportunities our programs and services provide for successful reintegration into society.
Donate
For the reduction in recidivism that we have achieved, we have saved the state of Colorado and its taxpayers over $24 million.
The math is simple; your contribution is an investment in our people and your community.
Volunteer
Visit prison with us and get to know our participants as a mentor or coach.
Join us as we build a dependable community of trust, awareness, and belonging where all are worthy of humanity.
Fair Opportunity Hiring initiative
We match employers looking for quality employees with our people re-entering society and provide them with the necessary tools to work together successfully.
Help us raise the bar and encourage your employers to take the Fair Opportunity Pledge.
Where are the volunteer opportunities located?
- Breakthrough currently runs our programming inside five prisons here in Colorado:
- Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility (AVCF) in Ordway, CO
- La Vista Correctional Facility (LVCF) in Pueblo, CO
- Centennial Correctional Facility (CCF) in Canon City, CO
- Colorado State Penitentiary (CSP) in Canon City, CO
- Skyline Correctional Center (SCC) in Canon City, CO
- We do host a monthly volunteer event, Volunteer Vibes, the last Thursday of every month where anyone interested in volunteering can come learn more! Check the Events calendar for specific information for Volunteer Vibes.
Do they run a background check on me before I volunteer?
Yes, the Colorado Department of Corrections is responsible for running background checks on all volunteers that will be entering their facilities. Because of this, please ensure that your drivers license information is correct on your volunteer forms!
Can I volunteer if I have a criminal background?
Yes, however, you must be off probation/parole/supervised release for two-years before you can enter facilities as a volunteer. Additionally, specific criminal charges are not permitted to enter the facilities. Please reach out to volunteer@timetobreakthrough.org with specific questions related to volunteering with a criminal background.
What is expected of me when I volunteer?
- It depends on the event you are attending, but overall, just show up and be yourself! Our volunteers are our “secret sauce” in helping our participants become the best versions of themselves, and we are so grateful for the time and effort they take to spend the entire day with our participants. We have three opportunities to volunteer at each facility that we work in:
- Our first milestone event is Mock Interview Day, where you will provide coaching and feedback to our participants on their resumes, cover letters, and Breakthrough statements. Breakthrough statements are statements unique to our participant that help them explain their criminal conviction to a potential employer.
- The second milestone event isBusiness Pitch Bootcamp. At this event, you will help our participants make their Business Pitch the best it can be! You will provide feedback on their business pitch ideas through coaching sessions, then hear business pitches for all of the participants. Volunteers will vote on the top five most marketable and feasible business ideas to move on to the final competition.
- At the final event, Graduation & Business Pitch Bootcamp, you will hear the final business pitches from the top five businesses, and vote on the winning idea! After that, you will be an esteemed guest at the Graduation ceremony, celebrating our participants on their hard work and completion of ‘The Challenge’ alongside their family members.
What should I bring with me when I volunteer?
Breakthrough will provide all of the materials that you need for the day, as well as lunch. If you have special dietary restrictions, you are permitted to bring your own lunch. When you arrive at the facility, you may only bring inside your ID and car keys. Please leave your cell phone, smart watches, wallets, purses, etc., locked in your car.
Should I be concerned about interacting with incarcerated people?
It’s natural to have some concerns or nerves about interacting with incarcerated individuals, but it’s important to understand the incredible impact you can have on their lives. Many incarcerated individuals are eager for opportunities to learn, grow, and change. Your involvement can provide them with the tools, skills, and hope needed to be the best version of themselves! Volunteering with Breakthrough can be a profoundly rewarding experience.