Our Service Locations

Main Office

Pasadena
464 E. Walnut Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
(located in the First
Congregational Church)
Tele: (626) 795-7607, ext. 103
Fax: (626) 795-1476
E-mail: info@friendsoutsidela.org

Satellite Offices

Long Beach
800 West Pacific Coast Hwy.
Long Beach, CA 90806
(located in the Goodwill Industries building)
Tele: (562) 436-8703
Fax: (562) 435-4861
E-mail: info@friendsoutsidela.org

Watts
1827 E. 103rd St., Ste. 400
Los Angeles, CA 90002
(located in the Robert Pitts Center)
Tele: (323) 249-9683, ext. 101
Fax: (323) 249-0044
E-mail: info@friendsoutsidela.org

Appointments are recommended for clients who seek services from our community-based offices. Some services are available in selected service sites only.

Services for Children & Families  l  Re-Entry Services  l  Service Locations

Services for Children and Families

The goal of Friends Outside’s services to children and famiiles is to address problems that arise when family members go to jail or to prison. Free services in English and Spanish include:

Advocacy: Assistance to address incarceration-related problems
Emotional Support: One-to-one consultations with non-judgmental staff
Family-Centered Events: Annual Holiday Party for Children
Family Communications Support: Assistance maintaining family ties.
Information about the Criminal Justice System: Information about prisons and jails, including visiting hours, rules, and regulations
Resource Referrals: Referrals to community services that may be available, such as for clothing, eye exams and prescriptive eye wear, utility turn-off
Supplies: Food, hygiene items (as available)
Support Groups: Twice monthly groups include peer discussions, guest speakers, and social-recreational activities
Transportation Assistance: Bus tokens to acess community services (as available) (Back to Top)

Re-Entry Services

Services to Ex-Inmates
The goal of Friends Outside’s Services to ex-inmates is to help them successfully transition back to the community. Free services in English and Spanish include the following:

Advocacy: Assistance accessing community resources and maintaining positive relationships with parole agents and probation officers
Emotional Support: One-to-one consultations with non-judgmental staff
Employment Assistance: Job readiness workshops, Job counseling, Job referrals; Follow-up support
Re-entry Assistance: Orientations; Case Management; Voter registration
Resource Referrals: Information about other community services that may be available, such as medical/dental/eye care; tattoo removal; sober-living, clothing, and substance abuse treatment
Supplies: Food, hygiene items (as available)
Support Groups: Twice monthly groups include peer discussion, guest speakers, and social-recreational activities
Transportation Assistance: Bus tokens for travel to appointments and to access community services (as available)

Parole to Payroll  
The goal of “Parole to Payroll” is to provide services that have been especially designed for the re-entry population and which will increase the likelihood that these individuals will get and keep a job.  Services include:
• Emotional Support:  One-to-one consultations with non-judgmental staff provide a safe place to discuss sensitive issues which affect employability as well as much-needed motivational support and encouragement.
• Information/Resource Referrals:  Information about employment-related concerns such as child support issues, registration with Selective Service, and the Earned Income Credit.
• Resource Referrals:  Referrals to other resources for needs such as housing, eye exams, clothing, prescriptive eye wear, tattoo removal, and dental care.
• Supportive Services:  Case Managers provide food, hygiene items, bus tokens, and assistance to obtain job-ready documents (as available)
• Job Referrals:  Referrals to job openings as well as maintain information about employers who are willing to hire the re-entry population
• Job Workshops:  Friends Outside’s copyrighted workshops are currently available in selected WorkSource Centers in Los Angeles County.   These 15-hour workshops include presentations and peer-based learning opportunities on topics the formerly incarcerated seldom have an opportunity to discuss.  These include:
    Can felons get a job?
    What are the barriers to getting a job and what can
    you do to overcome them?
    What type of jobs are open to hiring felons?
    Common legal concerns, such as child support concerns.
    How you can be your own worst enemy during a job search.
    How to handle questions about a criminal conviction on
    job applications and during job interviews.
    Taking care of you, including stress management and tips on staying sober.
 
WHY WAIT?  
Research shows that ex-prisoners who get and keep a job
for one year after release seldom return to custody.  

  (Back to Top)