Thinking Outside “the Box”

1. Thinking Outside “the Box” Wendi Bowen Eure, Reentry Coordinator

2. Unit Overview Applicant Services Unit MISSION: To ensure special populations receive meaningful services through NCWorks Career Centers by providing Centers with technical assistance, training, program oversight, and guidance. Special Populations Include: Unemployment Insurance Recipients, Individuals with Criminal Records, Older Workers, Individuals with Disabilities, Individuals with Limited English Proficiency, and other hard to Serve Customers Includes the following programs: Reemployment Services: • Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) • Employment Assessment Interview (EAI) Reentry Services: • NC Commerce Reentry Initiative (NCCRI) • Federal Bonding (FBP) Special Populations: • Older Worker • Equal Opportunity (EO) • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) • Limited English Proficiency (LEP)

3. Rebranding… Former Offender Initiative NC Commerce Reentry Initiative

4. Dedicated Reentry Staff • Reentry Program Coordinator, Wendi Eure • Six Highly Qualified Regional Reentry Specialists • NCWorks Career Centers, Local Reentry Specialists

5. Direct Services MISSION: Ensures job seekers with criminal records are provided assistance and services needed to overcome barriers to employment. Direct services provided by the NCWorks Career Center staff and recorded in NCWorks Online • Register in NCWorks Online • Assistance with updating the resume • Various Workshops available • Referrals to other services as needed • Information about Federal Bonding & Tax Credits • Referral to WIOA (Work Innovation and Opportunity Act) • Job Fairs In 2017 Centers served 9,192 individuals who self-disclosed they had a criminal record The employment rate for the individuals who received our services in 2016 is 55%

6. Regional Services MISSION: Ensures job seekers with criminal records are provided assistance and services needed to overcome barriers to employment. Regional Reentry Specialists • Provide technical assistance and training to NCWorks Career Center staff • Educate employers and community about initiative programs and services available • Visited over 1,700 employers in 2017 • Provide services to Inmates currently incarcerated (42 Jails, State and Federal Facilities) • Provided employment services and information to 2,200 inmates in 2017 • Work with Department of Public Safety on several projects, Hidden Workforce and Work Release • Participate in Reentry Councils across the state • Customers Provide direct services to customers who need additional assistance In 2017 the Reentry Specialists directly served 2,352 individuals

7. Public Safety Statistics • Population under correctional supervision in NC (April 2018) • Prison Inmates 37,210 • Probationers 84,937 • Post Release/Parole 12,053 • Total 134,200 • About 95% will be released at some point • Additional exiting Federal Prisons and Local Jails • The 3 year recidivism rate for NC is 40% • Many more have records but are not under correctional supervision • About 1 out of every 5 individuals has a criminal record

8. Commerce & Reentry • About 1 in 5 people have a criminal record… • 1 in 3 Working age adults have a criminal record • Someone who finds employment is 3 x less likely to return to prison • Impact on economic development & citizen’s employability • In the 1990’s Employment Security Commission operated The Ex-Offender Program • The Former Offender Initiative was established in 2007 and expanded in 2009 and again in 2013 to current capacity • History of issuing reentry grants and partnerships with DPS • Initial seed grant to DPS to begin the first 5 Reentry Councils • PRI (Prison Reentry Initiative) 2007-2011, funded by DOL and DOJ, staff placed in Employment Security Commission offices • Offender Employment and Training Initiative (OETI) 2010-2011, Commerce ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) funds used for training • Operating the Federal Bonding Program (over 50 years old) • Apprenticeship, Previously under Commerce, provides prison programs

9. Partnerships with DPS • Reentry Councils • Reentry Staff on all Reentry Councils • Reentry staff initiating new groups/councils • Commerce Representative on the State Reentry Council Collaborative • Correction Enterprises: Hidden Workforce Project • Close partnership with Michael Lockamy, DPS • Over 2,200 participants since 2014 received a letter from DPS introducing them to our services • Regional staff reach out to participants • Provide direct services • Work Release Assistance • Regional staff conduct employer visits (1,753 in 2017) • Promote an array of services including work release • Connect interested employers to DPS staff • 2013 Pilot project, Regional Staff assist inmates with job search

10. Other Special Projects • Legal Expungement Clinics in many NCWorks Career Centers (NEW in 2017) • Create an opportunity to learn about Expungement and Certificates of Relief • A long partnership with Legal Aid of NC • Make direct referrals to LANC services • July-December (2017), 487 individuals attended • Forsyth Driver’s License Restoration Project - Brian Long • Partnership with Forsyth DA and US Attorney’s office • Participants referred via the NCWorks Career Center • Reentry Coordinator responds to letters from incarcerated individuals • Correction Enterprises Advisory Council • Post-Secondary Employment Education Committee • Federal Bonding Podcast is arecording in partnership with Union Insurance Group and US DOL (Vanessa James and Wendi Eure) @ www.bonds4jobs.com • Employer Learning Sessions (more coming in 2018) • Sentencing Commission, provided employment data for individuals with criminal records

11. Federal Bonding Program an Incentive for employers who hire “at risk” individuals • “At Risk” includes individuals with: • A history of arrest or conviction of any kind • A history of substance abuse • A poor work • Bad credit • A dishonorable discharge from the military • Provides a FREE insurance • $5,000 in coverage (Up to $25,000 in necessary) • Protects against acts of dishonesty, theft, larceny, embezzlement, etc. • No Deductible • No paperwork • To establish a bond: • The Employer must contact NCWorks Career Center staff or the Federal Bonding Coordinator • Staff must complete the Federal Bonding Certification form • Staff sends form to the Federal Bonding Coordinator • Staff send employer letter confirming the bond has been processed • The Federal Bonding Coordinator processes the bond, applies the Bonding Stamp, and mails form to Union Insurance Group • Employer receives a packet from Union Insurance Group with instructions on how to file a claim if necessary • 45 Bonds currently available

12. Federal Bonding Program

13. Work Opportunity Tax Credit A Federal Tax Credit for employers who hire individuals in Certain Target Groups • Reduces the federal tax liability of private-for-profit employers • A one-time tax credit up to $9,600 for qualified employees (amount varies) • To be eligible, employers must hire an individual from one of the following groups: • People convicted of a felony or released from prison within the past 12 months • Recipients of Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) • People unemployed for at least 27 weeks • Vocational rehabilitation recipient • Recipients of long-term family assistance • Veterans unemployed at least four weeks • Veterans with a service-connected disability • To Apply, the Employer files an application online at www.ncworkswotc.comprior to the 28th day of employment. • Tax credits are based on a percentage of qualified wages.

14. Publications • NC Commerce Reentry Initiative Monthly Reports • NCWorks Career Center activities and Regional activities • Sent to all DWS and WDB Directors • The Former Offender Work Search Guide • 21 page booklet with tips, advice, and resources • (New Revision in 2017) • Reentry Works Newsletter (Newly Rebranded) • Training tool for workforce professionals • Special 3 page edition to be released soon

15. We are Here for You! Any Questions?