OVERVIEW OF TRAILS MINISTRIES PROGRAMS

YOUTH PROGRAMMING

DOVE (Diversion Occupation Vocation Education): A year-round educational and workforce readiness program which operates daily and provides programming for up to 30 participants each day, ages 12-18.  The majority of program participants are referred from the county’s Juvenile Probation or Child Welfare, but referrals are also received through school districts and self-referrals.  Certify-ED, OSHA, and other workplace resources are included.

Independent Living Work Experience:  Youth in the Independent Living Program through Beaver County Children & Youth Services are permitted to gain work experience at TRAILS for up to 30 hrs./wk. in various capacities in order to gain the skills and competence necessary to work in the broader workforce.  

Family Reunification - The coordinator walks with families of juveniles in placement facilities ordered by BCJSD.  TRAILS also provides transportation to families to be able to regularly visit with their children while completing programming at juvenile detention and placement facilities. 

After Care Mentoring - Mentoring and advocacy services that are continued through this program for youth and families once they return home and extend into early adulthood. 

Finding Your Independence (FYI): Mentoring and advocacy for youth in the foster care/dependency system in both placement and the community. This specific mentoring is geared towards those needing to develop life skills and independence, in order to transition out of care.  

Supporting Transition-Aged Youth (STAY) Housed Program: Housing assistance program for youth who were in foster placement after the age of 16. This program provides housing assistance and ongoing support to youth aged 17 to 26 in collaboration with HUD, the Beaver County Housing Authority and CYS.  The program can provide 3 years of support.  

MRT Certified Facilitators: Moral Recognition Therapy is a group therapy system that focuses on the moral cognition of a person and promotes self-actualization to redirect negative behaviors.  

Certify-ED: Virtual reality education courses allowing for earned college credits and obtaining trade-specific certifications.  See course list here.

ADULT PROGRAMMING

Angel Tree: TRAILS coordinates this program of all of Beaver County, partnering with local volunteers to provide gifts to children at Christmastime on behalf of their incarcerated parent(s). 

Prison Ministry: TRAILS’ men’s Bible Study has been a fixture at the Beaver County Jail for over 20 years. This is a multi-denominational group that meets every Thursday.  

Project ID: Financial and system’s navigation assistance in reclaiming individuals’ vital records, namely birth certificates, social security cards, driver’s licenses/photo IDs. (Also available to  youth.) 

Reclaim/Rebuild: This is a joint venture between TRAILS Ministries-The Reclaim Project and Rebuild -Sustainable Mission Partners. (SMP) – A collaboration of non-profit organizations that banded together to help returning citizens and justice involved individuals find meaningful employment through deconstruction and construction-type vocational training and jobs.   

Reentry Housing: Program in partnership with the PA Dept. of Corrections which helps connect Returning Citizens to landlords and safe, affordable housing. TRAILS seeks to increase stability by providing financial assistance towards security deposits and rent.  

Re-Entrants Attaining Community Housing (REACH) Program in partnership with the PA Dept. of Corrections provides housing for unemployable individuals who have been unable to reenter the community through the criminal justice system.   

Reentry Mentoring: Program in partnership with the PA Dept. of Corrections which oftentimes begins working with men and women through one-on-one mentoring. Mentors assist in the navigation of services available, offer a listening ear through challenges, and help to reconnect families and provide positive social relationships, involvement and activities.  

Project ID: Assistance with obtaining vital records: Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards and Photo IDs/Driver’s Licenses.