Employment Strategies for Ex-Offenders Presented at the Oklahoma CareerTech

Employment Strategies for Ex-OffendersPresented at the Oklahoma CareerTech

2014 Summer ConferenceBy Steve Gordon

Strategic Reentry Group

HOW I GOT HERE• Former State Director of the Oklahoma

Partnership for Successful Reentry• Taught a weekly class called “Prisoner

Reentry Orientation for Oklahoma City” at my church for 2.5 years• Served over 400 ex-offenders• Half the class was how to access resources

in OKC, the other half was an “employment for ex-offenders” training session 2


ASSUMPTIONS FOR THIS WORKSHOP• You have general knowledge of prisoner

reentry• You have general knowledge of the

operation of the Oklahoma prison system• You work with clients or students who are

currently incarcerated or who have a felony-conviction(s) in their past

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FUNDAMENTALS• There are many barriers to reentry• E.g., financial obligations, mandatory

appointments, transportation, childcare…• Most offenders are employable• Some are disabled and unable to work (may

apply to DRS)• They must BELIEVE they are employable

before they can find a job!4


POWER TOOLS IN YOUR TOOLKIT• The Roadmap to Employment *• Workforce Offices• Urban League• Goodwill Job Connection Centers• State Government Jobs• Dept. of Rehab. Services• “Careers For Ex-Felons” * * www.StrategicReentryGroup.com/pro-class

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OTHER FREE RESOURCES• Job Search Tracking Form *• Online Job Search Websites *• Job Search Preparation Checklist *• "Give Me A Chance: Wise Words to Job

Seekers in Tough Times" *• Best Job Search Tips & Resumes:

http://bit.ly/1s1BtYH

* www.StrategicReentryGroup.com/pro-class 6

http://bit.ly/1s1BtYH

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The Essential

Reentry Model

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Phase 1Pre-Release

1.1 PLAN1.2 PREPARE1.3 IDENTIFY1.4 RELATE

Phase 2Transition

2.1 CONNECT

2.2 SETTLE

2.3 WORK

2.4 ENGAGE

2.5 STABILIZE

2.6 RESIST

Phase 3Reintegration

3.1 MAINTAIN

3.2 FULFILL

3.3 RE-UNITE

3.4 INCREASE

3.5 UPGRADE

3.6 GIVE BACK

The Generic Process for Everyone

Key Concept: ‘Low Need’ vs. ‘High Need’

Main Outcome: A Basic Personal Reentry Plan

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Phase 1Pre-Release

1.1 PLAN 1 - Goals 2 - Traps, Red Flags 3 - Criminogenic Needs Assessment1.2 PREPARE 1 - Release Papers 2 - ID’s, Benefits 3 - Legal Matters 4 - Job Skills or Disability Status1.3 IDENTIFY 1 - Resources in the Community 2 - Financial Obligations 3 - Career Options or Disability Supports1.4 RELATE 1 - Identify Positive Relationships (family, friends, mentor, church) who will actively support 2 - Engage Mentor

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Phase 2Transition

2.1 CONNECT 1 - Connect with Mentor 2 - Picked up at Gate

2.2 SETTLE 1 - Obtain Stable Living Conditions 2 - Acquire Basic Needs

2.3 WORK 1 - Find Employment

2.4 ENGAGE 1 - Engage Support Group (Church, etc.) 2 - Engage Case Management (as needed)

2.5 STABILIZE 1 - Establish Consistent Positive Habits

2.6 RESIST 1 - Resist Temptation

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Phase 3Reintegration

3.1 MAINTAIN 1 - Remain Drug & Alcohol Free 2 - Maintain Employment 3 - Engage Health Services3.2 FULFILL 1 - Legal Obligations 2 - Financial Obligations 3.3 RE-UNITE 1 - Engage Family Reunification3.4 INCREASE 1 - Improve Job Skills 2 - Save Some Money 3 - Develop New (Non-Ex-Offender) Friends3.5 UPGRADE 1 - Upgrade Transportation 2 - Seek Career Education 3 - Seek Academic Education3.6 GIVE BACK 1 - Volunteer for Local Service Projects, Organizations

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Complex Reentry Factors

Worksheet

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FIELD KEY FACTORS

Gender - Male Female

Ethnic Identity -

Non-Hispanic White or Euro-American Black, Afro-Caribbean, or African American Latino or Hispanic American East Asian or Asian American South Asian or Indian American Middle Eastern or Arab American Native American or Alaskan Native Other

Assessed Risk

LSI-R ScoreLow (1-18) Moderate (19-28)

High (29-54)

Low Moderate High

In addition to the basic plan, there are a number of factors that make reentry planning complicated.

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Facility Security Level at Release

CCC = Community Corrections Center

HWH = Halfway House

Max

Med

Min

CCC

HWH GPS

No. of Offender Incarcerations

0 = Probation Only 0 1 2 3+

Gang Affiliation - Yes No

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Supervision Status at Release

Unsupervised = “Flat Time” only Supervised Un-Supervised

Disability Status

0 = Not Disabled1 = Disabled, Can Work2 = Disabled, Can Not

Work

0 1 2

Trauma VictimUse “Trauma History

Screen” tool Yes No

Special StatusRSO = Registered Sex

Offender Geriatric RSO Veteran

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Release StatusFor “other” use

back of form

Flat Time (Discharge) Probation Parole Hold For Warrants Hold For Other State Other

AODATreatment Status

1 = Needed It & Got It (graduated)

2 = Needed It & Did Not Get It

3 = Did Not Need It

1 2 3

Health Needs

MD = Medically Dependent

MMI = Mildly Mentally Ill

SMI = Severely Mentally Ill

MD MMI SMI

Main Outcome: A Highly-Customized Personal Reentry Plan

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PRIME Program Phases/Tasks/Roles

“Prisoner Reentry Initiative Mentoring & Employment”

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RECRUIT EVALUATEEMPLOYTRAINPREPARE

1. Teach Prisoner Reentry Orientation Class

2. Develop Personal Transition Plan (housing, identifi-cation, other needs)

3. Conduct PRIME Program Orient-ation to Prepare for Training

4. Certify Candidate with CReW Program

5. Implement Program “Contract”

Case Mgr. Case Mgr. Job Dev. Job Dev. Admin.

1. Announce Program at Targeted Institutions (with Eligibility Criteria)

2. Receive Applications

3. Screen Applicants

4. Build Waiting List of Applicants

5. Prioritize Applicants Using Risk Analysis Tool

* Conduct Baseline “Readiness Survey”

1. Conduct “Work Readiness” Assessment

2. Conduct Industry-Specific Training Leading to Recognized Certification Status

3. Obtain Two Forms of ID for Each Student

4. Collect Student Feedback Data (to Document Training Effectiveness)

5. Ensure Adequate Transportation for Work Assignments

1. Assign Job Coach

2. Develop IEP (“Individual Employment Plan”)

* Conduct Mid-Program “Readiness Survey”

3. Get Participant’s First Assignment

4. Support Participant Intensely For 30 Days, Then Periodic Checks

5. Provide Social Services as Needed to Keep Participant Employed

1. Track Each Client for Length of Program, up to One Year

* After 6 months, conduct “Program Satisfaction” Survey

2. Accumulate Specific Performance Data

3. Measure Employment Retention Results

4. Measure Employment Earnings Results

5. Compute Socio- Economic Impact & Publish Results

Recruit Mentors Train Mentors Assign Mentors Evaluate MentorsSupport Mentors

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CReW ProgramCertified Rehabilitated Worker

Program Overview


PROGRAM WAITING TO BE DEVELOPED• Fee-based certification program• Targets rehabilitated individuals who have a

strong portfolio of achievements• G.E.D., college transcript, training programs,

Vo-Tech programs, prison rehabilitation classes, anger management, diplomas, letters of recommendation, etc.• Work with employers to accept CReW as a

risk-reduction strategy in hiring 21

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Job and Business ‘Engine’ Model


Released from

PrisonP.E.P.

PrisonEntrepreneurs

Program

ReentryOne-Stop

Center

Bi-Monthly Business Referral Club for Felon-

Friendly Businesses Only

The Free CoFFE!Database:

Coalition of Felon-Friendly

Employers

Self-Employment

for Ex-OffendersSeminar

Employers Reentry Council

Entrepreneur’sClub

Bi-Monthly Mentoring of 6-12 New or Younger

Business Owners

CReW

Certified Rehabilitated Workers Program

“Blue-Collar Jobs”

“White-Collar Jobs”

“ForEntrepreneurs,

BusinessStart-Ups”

To Corporate America

Community-Leader Business Owners and HR Directors Who Advise SRG on

Employment Strategies for Reentry

Felon-FriendlyDay Labor

Felon-FriendlyStaffing

Companies

“Quick-Cash Jobs”

“Temp Jobs”

RoyalRoundtableMetro-Area

Job Club

Peer-Supported Job Search Club for

Ex-offenders

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The Strategic Reentry Group

www.StrategicReentryGroup.com

Consulting Services & Products to Facilitate

Local, Regional & National Reentry Efforts for Ex-Offenders

BLOG: www.AllThingsReentry.com

Employment Strategies for Ex-Offenders Presented at the Oklahoma CareerTech

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Transcript of Employment Strategies for Ex-Offenders Presented at the Oklahoma CareerTech