Many of the youth Woosaa Wellness serves have spent years in survival mode — both mentally and physically.
In detention, they receive limited guidance or emotional support to explore who they want to become or what’s possible for them beyond release.
The re-entry journey for most youth begins without the physical and mental health, sense of safety or security, emotional or financial support, or positive role models they need to imagine a future they’re excited about. Some don’t even have a home.
The journey of returning to society after incarceration
Re-Entry
Woosaa Wellness’s re-entry services provide a safe and steady place for youth to land the moment they are released. Our team stands with each young person as they rebuild their lives — helping them get well physically, mentally, and supporting them with the practical, administrative steps that can feel overwhelming on their own. Woosaa becomes the community that believes in them until they can fully believe in themselves, helping them build plans rooted in their own goals, talents, and potential.
“He who does not have a vision for his life will fall into someone else’s plan.”
Woo Way 90-Day
Strategic Action Plan
Each young person is assigned to a Woosaa Mentor who will be their point person for weekly check-ins for all administrative oversight (procuring vital documents like birth certificate, identification and social security cards, securing safe housing) and coaching sessions that introduce them to and guide them along the Woo Way 90-Day Strategic Action Plan, which includes:
-
A manual with daily reminders, journal prompts, morning and evening meditation practice and mindful movement sequences, weekly reading assignments, and quotes. This manual inspires users towards a positive attitude and growth mindset. The tools within teach users to regulate their nervous systems. It is a physical place to explore their feelings and self-reflect, as well as track their progress.
-
This H&WG, included in the manual, supports youth in transforming diet and eating habits vital to physical and mental wellness.
Woosaa Wellness provides youth with foods like organic oatmeal, dehydrated organic mangoes, high protein organic ramen, and multivitamin electrolyte tablets.*We are working with sponsors to expand the food options provided to food-insecure youth that mostly live in fresh-food deserts. Contact us if you are a food purveyor who would like to support our mission!
-
Our Workforce Development & Teen Leadership Training is held in 2-4 hour sessions twice weekly with 2 weekend intensives. These sessions emphasize punctuality, accountability, responsibility, and professional communication. Mentors inspire youth to discover their innate personal power to create the life of their dreams.
-
Hiring our Re-Entry kids within our own organization’s community programming in the Bronx provides a safe, supportive place for them to apply tools learned in Workforce Development & Leadership training with emphasis on punctuality, honoring one’s word, communication skills.
Job roles include:
Teen Basketball Coach
Teen Referee
Event operations
Scoring Statistics & Data Analytics
Media (Documentation) & communications
Near Peer Mentorship & Coaching
As the 90-Day Program progresses, Woosaa Wellness Mentors work with their mentees to discover their unique interests, passions, and dreams.
Woosaa Wellness’s aim is to shift re-entry youth mindset from the pursuit of happiness (money, for most) to the happiness of pursuit: the joy that comes from actively moving toward a purpose.
The A–Z Framework, where Z represents where a young person wants to go (their vision, orientation, or big dreams) and A represents where they are right now (a present reality that can be difficult to face, honestly).
To help youth acknowledge their present circumstances, Woosaa draws on yogic practices that encourage meeting discomfort head on. By learning to stay present with challenging sensations, physical or emotional, youth build the capacity to confront their reality without denial or avoidance.
Once the A and Z points are clear, the next step of the ‘work’ is identifying ‘B’. Woosaa Wellness guides youth away from the overwhelm of the end goal and toward a process-oriented mindset that emphasizes consistent effort, resilience, and the fulfillment that comes from hard work and steady progress.
The A-Z
A Collaborative Support Network
Our team emphasizes building relationships while youth are still incarcerated, laying a foundation of trust and support that continues on the outside. We also work closely with the Center for Community Alternatives, Families Rising, Bronx and Harlem Defenders, and Legal Aid to make sure that every young person’s legal and practical needs are met. Together, we create a wraparound support system that helps youth move toward becoming responsible community members.