AWO Report Card - 2010

The A Way Out Program

A Ministry of Citizens for Community Values, Inc.--Memphis

Carol Wiley, Director

• AWO provides food, clothing, housing, counseling, medical, and dental services, job and life skill training, all at no cost to the women and children who participate in the program.
• AWO's potential to house the women and children who come for help has been limited to a duplex which CCV rented as well as partnering with other agencies, until 2010, when AWO was given a house which was renovated to accommodate six additional women. 
• 46 women seeking help to leave a life of prostitution, stripping, and repeated incarceration were assisted in varying degrees.
• 8 women completed AWO's Intensive Outreach Life Skill and Addiction class phase of the program which runs for 17 weeks Monday through Friday, 9:00-12:15.
• 3 women graduated with HopeWorks, an 11-week program for life and job skills, which partners with AWO.
• 3 women are working on their GEDs, 2 are in college, and one is working on getting into cosmetology school to become a hairstylist. 
• One woman's 11 year old son met his father for the first time in his life with the help of the AWO director, her counselor, and an attorney who volunteered her services.
• AWO added a Celebrate Recovery Program, which is a faith-based recovery program led by an AWO graduate.
• AWO is a volunteer-driven program with over 150 ladies mentoring, bringing meals, teaching IOP classes, praying, helping with transportation, and bringing clothes to the clothes closet in 2010.