Accelerating Reintegration and Improving Access for Ex-Offenders (ARIA)

1. Accelerating Reintegration and Improving Access for Ex-Offenders (ARIA) Maiknue Vang Chris Rodriguez Jose Pantoja Deputy Director Correctional Lieutenant Deputy Chief Probation Officer Madera County WDB Madera Dept. of Corrections Madera Dept. of Probation

2. Early Partnerships • In 2011, California voters passed Assembly Bill 109 known as "realignment.” • This bill was to divert people convicted of certain classes of less serious felonies (non-serious, non-violent, and non-sex related) from the state prisons to local county jails. • Madera Business and Career News: • https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e12-helping-the-reentry-population-find-meaningful-work/id1396071647?i=1000444458621

3. Key Issues • PY 2016-2017, only 19% of customers were probation-referred and less than 10% were in-custody participants. • Improve access for ex-offenders to AJCC system services using an accelerated approach to service delivery to increase participation in AJCC services both pre- and post-release.

4. Big Idea • Embed an AJCC Career Specialist (CS) into the Department of Corrections (DOC) facility and the Madera County Probation Department to work with both pre-release and post-release ex-offenders. • CS housed at DOC Tuesday – Friday, 8-11am, to coordinate with staff on transition planning and connections to services post release. • CS housed at Probation on Monday, 8-11am, to strengthen connections to skill development, education, employment, and the broader menu of AJCC & community services.

5. Project Goals

6. Pre-Release Services • 4-week workshop for in-custody participants • 120 days of release from DOC. May also include individuals that DOC staff deem appropriate. • 2 hours per day, 10 hours each week, inside the correctional facility • Workshop conducted Monday through Friday • Groups of no more than 15 individuals

7. Pre-Release Curriculum Topics include, but are not limited to:

8. Pre-Release Mock Interviews • Mock interviews allow participants to practice what they have been learning. • Interview panels comprised of Business Specialists, local employers, and WDB board members. • Panelists provide feedback to program participants regarding the critical skills employers look for when hiring new employees. • Participants are provided business attire for the interviews.

9. Post Release Workshops • 3 hour dedicated Orientation and CalJOBs system registration/job search workshop • Offered 4 times a month to individuals who are referred from Probation • Held at the AJCC

10. Post Release Resource Fairs

11. Outcomes Pre-ARIA (PY 2016/2017) • Ex-offender referrals • Less than 10% from in-custody • 19% from probation • 69 enrolled in WIOA • 26 total training • 9 skills training credential • 22 employed • 43% recidivism rate ARIA (2/2018-7/2019) • 429 ex-offender referrals • 59% from in-custody • 22% from probation • 3% from Parole • 16% from MCWIC • 91 enrolled in WIOA • 30% from in-custody • 23% from probation • 1% parole • 46% from MCWIC • 23 total training • 7 skills training credential • 26 employed • 15% recidivism rate

12. Where are we now? Challenges • I-9/Right to Work Docs • Internet/Computer • Digital literacy • Transportation • Personal assumptions • Transitional Housing • No interest in training Solutions/Lessons • Booking report, DSS, CSS • WIOA paper application • Fresno State’s digital literacy class • MAX/Madera County Connection • Self-esteem & confidence building • Habitat for Humanity • OK if they just want a job

13. Q & A Maiknue Vang mvang@maderaworkforce.org 559-662-4503 Chris Rodriguez clrodriguez@maderacounty.com 559-675-7951 Jose Pantoja jpantoja@maderacounty.com 559-675-6739