Building Durable Skills for Stability & Employment
A flexible program designed for San Francisco residents to strengthen personal accountability, emotional regulation, and readiness for work.
About the Program
SF Job Ready is a 12-week hybrid durable skills program that strengthens San Francisco Pretrial's In-Custody Referral model. It pairs trusted in-person facilitation with a lightweight digital companion to build the mindsets, skills, and confidence essential for employment, accountability, and long-term stability.
The program helps participants develop personal agency, emotional regulation, communication, and reliability — creating measurable growth in readiness for work and community life. By combining human connection and data insight, SF Job Ready supports judges, probation officers, and community partners in reducing recidivism and improving outcomes citywide.
"Human connection first. Real skills for real life."
How It Works
Four core components working together to create lasting change
In-Person Facilitation
Turnkey facilitation along with staff professional development available.
Technology Platform
Mobile access and short digital lessons. Measures attention and engagement.
Reporting Tools
Improve outcomes and share progress with partners and funders.
Certificate of Completion
A signal to employers of readiness and reliability.
Flexible Learning Paths and Entry Points
A hopeful journey building durable skills, action orientation, and persistence.
Learning Mindset
Participants explore how adopting a learning and growth mindset helps them face challenges with curiosity instead of fear, setting the tone for progress throughout the program.
Understanding Emotions
Learners identify basic emotions, recognize emotional triggers, and begin connecting feelings to actions and outcomes.
Regulating Emotions
Builds self-control and composure through strategies that help participants manage stress, frustration, and conflict constructively.
Honest Expression
Focuses on clear, respectful communication and sharing one's perspective without blame or defensiveness.
Taking Ownership
Encourages accountability for decisions and follow-through, emphasizing the connection between reliability and trust.
Learning from Mistakes
Teaches reflection and recovery skills, helping participants turn setbacks into opportunities for improvement.
Active Listening
Strengthens communication by practicing empathy, attention, and genuine understanding of others.
Giving Feedback
Covers how to offer and receive feedback productively, supporting teamwork and continuous improvement.
Showing Responsibility
Reinforces personal reliability—meeting commitments, showing up on time, and completing assigned tasks.
Building Trust
Focuses on honesty, consistency, and respect as foundations for relationships at home, work, and in the community.
Self-Care
Emphasizes mental and physical well-being, introducing daily practices that sustain focus and resilience.
Reflection & Intention
Participants review their growth, set forward-looking goals, and define how they will apply these skills beyond the program.
Participant Outcomes
Improved Job Readiness & Confidence
Participants develop the durable skills, mindsets, and persistence needed for sustainable employment.
Reduced Recidivism
Through self-management skills and sense of belonging in the community.
Strengthened System Collaboration
Better coordination between justice and workforce development systems.
Path to Stability
A consistent pathway toward personal and community stability.
Portrait of a SF Job Ready Certificate Holder
Future outcomes of growth and transformation
It gave me a routine again — people who listened, lessons that made sense, and a safe place to practice.
Marcus T.
Program Graduate
I learned how to communicate better with my family and potential employers. The skills are real and they work.
Sarah M.
Program Graduate
For the first time in years, I felt like someone believed in my potential. The program gave me hope and practical tools.
David R.
Program Graduate
Get Involved
Interested in partnering, referring participants, or learning more about SF Job Ready? We'd love to hear from you.