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	What We Do
REV:2/19/2005	Step by Step fulfills its mission through the various programs it offers to incarcerated women and women on the outside. The heart of Step by Step's programming is a highly-structured eight-week workshop focusing on the life stories of women and the gifts and strengths that can be discovered and claimed in their stories.  We have developed eight workshops with various themes: self esteem, survival, relationships, following our dreams, etc. (see page Workshops  for more information on the individual workshops). The common beliefs that guide the workshops are: Each woman has a story to tell Each woman has gifts and strengths The strength-based approach is more helpful in recognizing and claiming gifts and strengths, than the problem-focused approach The group is an effective instrument for helping her recognize her gifts and strengths Creative activities are effective ways to discover hidden talents and strengths Rules that govern the operation of the workshops are: Each woman must participate Homework is assigned at each class and is considered an absence if not done No more than two absences are allowed These workshops offer the women a structured environment for learning and self-reflection. They provide a safe environment for discussing issues of concern and provide role models of women who are leading productive lives. The workshops incorporate self-esteem building and goal setting into the curriculum. We currently offer workshops at correctional facilities and in drug court and treatment programs. We have offered workshops at high schools for at-risk girls and are exploring the possibility of reestablishing that program. We give retreats on the Spirituality of Recovery four times a year to women who are incarcerated and also to women who are in the community who have been in our programs.  For women who have been incarcerated, we also have a weekly support group, a mentoring program and special events for the women and their families. "Still I Rise" is a newsletter that contains writings of the women in our program and is distributed to women at the county jail and mailed to the women on our mailing list, women who have been incarcerated and are now out.  Because the best group facilitator is often a woman who" has been there" we train and supervise women who have been incarcerated and are now in recovery to co-facilitate groups.

228 S. Plymouth Ave. Rochester, NY. 14608  Phone: 585-224-0763  Fax: 585-288-8026 E-mail: sbys@StepByStepRochester.org