MATFA trains and supports mentors to help youths in the program to acquire skills needed for re-entry into society. Our mentors counsel all individuals in the program to help them understand they are “at risk” of being incarcerated again if they do not change their lives. MATFA’s curriculum helps young people succeed by teaching them to look at the choices the make on a daily basis. 

MATFA has been able to reduce the recidivism rate to a remarkable 8% for participating individuals in the California Department of Juvenile Justice (Norwalk). These young men and women are aged 13 to 25. Approximately 250 youth are enrolled in this program. 

MATFA has recently founded a correspondence program with Soledad State Prison in California. This is a program for Soledad inmates who are serving a life sentence that want to give back to the community by mentoring youth coming into the prison system on taking accountability for the crimes they’ve committee

  • Inmates have a correspondence program that will be distributed to at risk youth to dissuade them from committing further crimes to end up in the prison system

  • Mentor children coming in that are being tried as adults

  • Correspond to incarcerated youth through the MATFA program to share their experiences at committing crimes to help lead youth away from committing further transgressions

  • Everyone has a right to change and to learn forgiveness

MATFA provides post-release support programs for both the youth and their families. Training includes:

  • Mentoring for up to one year after release

  • Training for social and behavioral skills

  • Support to complete their education

  • Vocational training while gainfully employed

  • Help working with parole and probation officers to provide safe, disciplined housing and school re-entry