FOLA’s efforts to provide cost-effective services were recognized recently when FOLA’s program, the “Incarcerated Parents Project (IPP),” was a recipient of a Special Merit Award by the County’s Quality and Productivity Commission, an award that recognizes County Departments for innovative programs that demonstrate savings to the County. This award resulted from FOLA’s collaboration with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. IPP moved on to the national level of competition, winning a “NACo” (National Association of Counties) Achievement Award in June 2013.
In February 2013, Friends Outside’s “PATA” (Placement and Transportation Assistance) program was designated as a “Promising Practice” by the Vera Institute of Justice (“Making the Transition: Rethinking Jail Reentry in Los Angeles County”). PATA facilitates placement of court-ordered inmates into substance abuse treatment in lieu of all or a portion of their jail sentences, (and thereby addressing underlying problems which resulted or contributed to their incarceration)
- March 2013, Mary Weaver, Executive Director, was named a “Fatherhood Hero” by the White House, Office of Public Engagement/Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. for “exemplifying the Goals of President Obama’s Fatherhood & Mentoring Initiative.”
- October 2012, Friends Outside in Los Angeles County’s Incarcerated Parents Project received a “Special Merit Award” from Los Angeles County, the 26th Annual Productivity and Quality Awards Program, through its partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
- 2011, FOLA was named by City of Los Angeles, Workforce Development Department, to write an online training for its WorkSource Center staff in order to improve their staff’s ability to provide employment services to the re-entry population.
- 2011, FOLA was named “Partner of the Year” by the Center for Health Justice.
- 2011 FOLA was named the “Partner of the Year” by the Foothill Workforce Investment Board.
- 2009 and 2010, FOLA’s Job Readiness Workshops, which were a component of the City of Los Angeles’ Re-entry Employment Options Project (REEOP) and the City of Los Angeles’ Project New Start, were recognized by an international evaluation company, Westat, as being one of the most important components of both projects.
- 2008, The “Woman Pioneer” award from the Los Angeles City Council was given to FOLA Board Chair Joyce Ride for her work with female inmates and she also received one of ten “Women of the Year” awards from the Los Angeles County Commission for Women.
- In 2007, FOLA founder Martha Jane Dowds was awarded the “Public Citizen of the Year” award by the National Association of Social Workers, California, Region 1.
- In 2004, a client in our “Parole to Payroll” program was a recipient of the Star Award from the Los Angeles County Community Action Board.
- In 1996, Friends Outside volunteers received the “Spirit of Giving” award from the City of Pasadena. In 1997, Mrs. Dowds was a Finalist for the Golden Rule Award from the JCPenney Corporation.
- In 1990, Friends Outside in Los Angeles received a commendation from James Rowland, Director of the California Department of Corrections, for providing “outstanding services to parolees.”