Employment Strategies for Ex-Offenders Presented at the Oklahoma CareerTech

1. Employment Strategies for Ex-Offenders Presented at the Oklahoma CareerTech 2014 Summer Conference By Steve Gordon

2. 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

3. Strategic Reentry Group • 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

4. Strategic Reentry Group • FUNDAMENTALS • There are many barriers to reentry • E.g., financial obligations, mandatory appointments, transportation, childcare… • Most offenders areemployable • Some are disabled and unable to work (may apply to DRS) • They must BELIEVE they are employable before they can find a job!

5. Strategic Reentry Group • 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

6. Strategic Reentry Group • 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

7. Strategic Reentry Group The Essential Reentry Model

8. Strategic Reentry Group The Generic Process for Everyone Key Concept: ‘Low Need’ vs. ‘High Need’ Phase 1 Pre-Release Phase 2 Transition Phase 3 Reintegration 1.1 PLAN 1.2 PREPARE 1.3 IDENTIFY 1.4 RELATE 2.1 CONNECT 2.2 SETTLE 2.3 WORK 2.4 ENGAGE 2.5 STABILIZE 2.6 RESIST • 3.1 MAINTAIN • 3.2 FULFILL • 3.3 RE-UNITE • 3.4 INCREASE • 3.5 UPGRADE • 3.6 GIVE BACK Main Outcome: A Basic Personal Reentry Plan

9. Strategic Reentry Group • 1.1 PLAN • 1 - Goals • 2 - Traps, Red Flags • 3 - Criminogenic Needs Assessment • 1.2 PREPARE • 1 - Release Papers • 2 - ID’s, Benefits • 3 - Legal Matters • 4 - Job Skills or Disability Status • 1.3 IDENTIFY • 1 - Resources in the Community • 2 - Financial Obligations • 3 - Career Options or Disability Supports • 1.4 RELATE • 1 - Identify Positive Relationships (family, friends, • mentor, church) who will actively support • 2 - Engage Mentor Phase 1 Pre-Release

10. Strategic Reentry Group • 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 Phase 2 Transition

11. Strategic Reentry Group • 3.1 MAINTAIN • 1 - Remain Drug & Alcohol Free • 2 - Maintain Employment • 3 - Engage Health Services • 3.2 FULFILL • 1 - Legal Obligations • 2 - Financial Obligations • 3.3 RE-UNITE • 1 - Engage Family Reunification • 3.4 INCREASE • 1 - Improve Job Skills • 2 - Save Some Money • 3 - Develop New (Non-Ex-Offender) Friends • 3.5 UPGRADE • 1 - Upgrade Transportation • 2 - Seek Career Education • 3 - Seek Academic Education • 3.6 GIVE BACK • 1 - Volunteer for Local Service Projects, Organizations Phase 3 Reintegration

12. Strategic Reentry Group Complex Reentry Factors Worksheet

13. Strategic Reentry Group

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

15. Strategic Reentry Group

16. Strategic Reentry Group

17. Strategic Reentry Group Main Outcome: A Highly-Customized Personal Reentry Plan

18. Strategic Reentry Group PRIME Program Phases/Tasks/Roles “Prisoner Reentry Initiative Mentoring & Employment”

19. Strategic Reentry Group RECRUIT PREPARE TRAIN EMPLOY EVALUATE • Track Each Client for Length of Program, up to One Year • * After 6 months, conduct “Program Satisfaction” Survey • Accumulate Specific Performance Data • Measure Employment Retention Results • Measure Employment Earnings Results • Compute Socio- Economic Impact & Publish Results • Assign Job Coach • Develop IEP (“Individual Employment Plan”) • * Conduct Mid-Program “Readiness Survey” • Get Participant’s First Assignment • Support Participant Intensely For 30 Days, Then Periodic Checks • Provide Social Services as Needed to Keep Participant Employed • Teach Prisoner Reentry Orientation Class • Develop Personal Transition Plan (housing, identifi-cation, other needs) • Conduct PRIME Program Orient-ation to Prepare for Training • Certify Candidate with CReW Program • Implement Program “Contract” • Conduct “Work Readiness” Assessment • Conduct Industry-Specific Training Leading to Recognized Certification Status • Obtain Two Forms of ID for Each Student • Collect Student Feedback Data (to Document Training Effectiveness) • Ensure Adequate Transportation for Work Assignments • Announce Program at Targeted Institutions (with Eligibility Criteria) • Receive Applications • Screen Applicants • Build Waiting List of Applicants • Prioritize Applicants Using Risk Analysis Tool • * Conduct Baseline “Readiness Survey” Case Mgr. Case Mgr. Job Dev. Job Dev. Admin. Recruit Mentors Train Mentors Assign Mentors Support Mentors Evaluate Mentors

20. Strategic Reentry Group CReW Program Certified Rehabilitated Worker Program Overview

21. Strategic Reentry Group • PROGRAM WAITING TO BE DEVELOPED • Fee-based certification program • Targets rehabilitated individualswho 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

22. Strategic Reentry Group Job and Business ‘Engine’ Model

23. Strategic Reentry Group Self-Employment for Ex-Offenders Seminar “For Entrepreneurs, Business Start-Ups” P.E.P. Released from Prison Reentry One-Stop Center Prison Entrepreneurs Program “White-Collar Jobs” CReW “Quick-Cash Jobs” To Corporate America Felon-Friendly Day Labor “Temp Jobs” Certified Rehabilitated Workers Program Entrepreneur’s Club Felon-Friendly Staffing Companies “Blue-Collar Jobs” Bi-Monthly Mentoring of 6-12 New or Younger Business Owners Royal Roundtable Employers Reentry Council Metro-Area Job Club Bi-Monthly Business Referral Club for Felon-Friendly Businesses Only The Free CoFFE! Database: Coalition of Felon-Friendly Employers Community-Leader Business Owners and HR Directors Who Advise SRG on Employment Strategies for Reentry Peer-Supported Job Search Club for Ex-offenders

24. The Strategic Reentry Group www.StrategicReentryGroup.com Consulting Services & Products to Facilitate Local, Regional & National Reentry Efforts for Ex-Offenders BLOG: www.AllThingsReentry.com