Fresh Start Ministries & Mentoring Inc

In 2009 Fresh Start Mentoring grew out of a desire by Chaplain Herb inside the Pinellas County Jail to mentor people outside the jail after their release to help them get through probation successfully AND NOT RETURN TO JAIL.

People not mentored are rearrested and reincarcerated at a rate of 70%; those completing Fresh Start Mentoring have over a 70% success rate of not returning to jail saving taxes and increasing public safety. Inmates cost $126 per day, $45k annually.

At no cost to the client, Fresh Start mentors clients using coaching skills to set up and achieve goals. A minimum of 12 weeks of mentoring--more if agreed to--takes place with sessions once week in public locations. The person being coached does the work; no enabling.

 Due to the success of its probation mentoring program, has been invited to the New Port Richey (Pasco County) probation office to set up mentoring there. In Pinellas County, Fresh Start works with 6 probation offices in Pinellas County, the Sixth Judicial Court, the Sheriff and Dep of Juvenile Justice. Hillsborough County is being carefully developed for more juvenile mentoring with with 18 months of mentoring already. Fresh Start is now mentoring juveniles in the with the special school AMI Kids in Tampa.

Gaining widespread recognition, Fresh Start can only continue and grow through your donations as a nonprofit faith-based 501 C 3. Mentors receive no compensation and recruited from local churches as a free service to the community.