The Intersection Between JIIs and Dislocated Worker

1. The Intersection Between JIIs and Dislocated Worker Trade Impacted/Dislocated JIIs Jessica Westhoff, OWDS –Reentry Coordinator

2. What is Re-Entry? • Re-Entry is a process that begins when someone is incarcerated, continues after they are released from incarceration and ends when they are reintegrated into the community • Re-Entry programs refers to a workforce development program designed to provide assistance and services to individuals who have been released from jail or prison, or who are preparing to be released, and helps a participant overcome challenges to employment related to incarceration

3. Ex-Offenders/ Justice-Involved Individuals WIOA seeks to expand workforce opportunities for individuals involved in the justice system. Chief among WIOA purposes is to increase labor and market access for individuals with barriers to employment, including “ex-offenders” . WIOA sec. 3(25) defines ex-offenders as an: “Adult or juvenile who is or has been the subject to any stage of the criminal justice process and for whom services under [WIOA] may be beneficial, or who requires assistance in overcoming artificial barriers to employment resulting from a record of arrest or conviction”.

4. Program Description • Statistics show that 97% of offenders currently incarcerated in Tennessee will return home one day. • Within three years of their release, 46% will be rearrested and return to prison or jail. • Recidivism studies reveal that two out of every three people released from state prison are rearrested for a new offense about half return to prison within three years. • Lowering the recidivism rate through work-based programs diminishes incarceration costs increases tax revenue, and provides local businesses with the additional skilled labor they need. • When reentry fails, the social and economic costs are significant - higher crime, more victims, increased family distress, and greater strain on state and municipal budgets.

5. Provisions of Service

6. Re-Entry service provision is designed to: • Provide high-quality, evidence-based programs that address factors related to an individual’s likelihood to offend

7. Re-Entry service provision is designed to: • Collect and track data to aid in promoting buy-in support for fine-tuning recidivism-reduction strategies

8. Re-Entry service provision is designed to: • Provide activities leading to attainment of a secondary school diploma or HISET

9. Re-Entry service provision is designed to: • Prepare individuals for postsecondary education and training opportunities

10. Re-Entry service provision is designed to: • Provide strong linkages between academic instruction and occupational education leading to the attainment of recognized post-secondary credentials

11. Re-Entry service provision is designed to: • Focus on individuals that are most likely to recidivate or at-risk of justice involvement and provide continued support services to those individuals who need them to participate and succeed in work investment training activities

12. Re-Entry service provision is designed to: • Prepare individuals to obtain unsubsidized employment while cultivating effective connections to employers

13. Service Delivery Strategy

14. Re-Entry Service Strategies • Sector Strategy • Stackable Education & Training Options • Contextualized Learning & Targeted Career Development • Integrated Education & Training • Industry-Recognized Credentials • Multiple-Entry & Exit Points • In-reach & Outreach Strategies • Timing of Services • Mobile AJCs • Intensive Wrap-Around Services

15. Re-Entry Service Strategies • Sector Strategy • Programs should align with the skills needs of industries important to the regional or state economy and encourage employers in the targeted sectors to become actively engaged in determining the skill requirements for employment or career progression in high-demand occupations

16. Re-Entry Service Strategies • Stackable Education & Training Options • Programs offer a clear sequence, or pathway, of education coursework and/or training credentials aligned with employer-validated work readiness standards and competencies. This systems approach makes it easier for people to earn industry-recognized credentials (through more flexible avenues and opportunities for relevant education and training) and to attain marketable skills so that they can more easily find work in growing careers

17. Re-Entry Service Strategies • Contextualized Learning & Training Options • Education and Training programs focus on instructional strategies and curriculum that make work a central context for learning and attaining work readiness skills

18. Re-Entry Service Strategies • Integrated Education & Training • Programs combine occupational skills training with adult education services where appropriate, and adopt strategies that accelerate the educational and career advancement of the participant

19. Re-Entry Service Strategies • Industry-Recognized Credentials • Effective Re-Entry programs have pathways that lead to the attainment of industry-recognized degrees or credentials that have value in the labor market

20. Re-Entry Service Strategies • Multiple Entry & Exit Points • Programs allow varying skill levels to enter or advance within a specific occupational field

21. Re-Entry Service Strategies • In-Reach & Outreach • Key county justice partners include: • County jails • Sheriffs • Probation departments The partnership between the county justice system and LWDBs with reentry programs provides an opportunity to connect workforce development services to the justice involved population

22. Re-Entry Service Strategies • Intensive Wrap-Around Services • Supportive services are important in addressing life issues that may occur during an individual’s participation. There should be an on-going assessment of the participants need for assistance in a variety of areas such as, housing, transportation, childcare, medical and living expenses, etc. This will ensure that each participant is able to fully participate and complete his or her program. • Programs should incorporate academic counseling, career counseling and other wrap-around supports particularly at points of transition. When designing programs avoid duplication of services and ensure that these supportive services are integrated among partners

23. Delivery Components

24. Key Delivery Components • Building Cross-Agency Partnerships • Identifying In-demand Industries and Engaging Employers • Customized Education & Training Programs • Co-Enrollment scenarios

25. Building Cross-Agency Partnerships A Re-Entry program cannot be developed without strong cross-agency partnerships at the state and local level. • Each partner helps ensure that the system operates to serve the local labor market demands and needs of the participants

26. Identifying In-demand Industries & Engaging Employers Re-Entry programs should be employer driven. • Programs should; • have active employer evolvement to help determine the industries and sectors around which to build training and education programs • focus on employers willing to hire JIIs • target high-demand and growing sectors • identify key employers within those sectors • ensure that employer partners inform them of skills needs and employment opportunities within those key sectors/industries

27. Customized Education & Training Programs • In order to develop, design, and implement effective Re-Entry employment and training program LWDBs should; • identify all possible offender “entry” points • incorporate program design that incorporates features that support the unique needs of JIIs and prepares individuals regardless of their skill levels at the point of entry, for post-secondary education, training and employment

28. Co-Enrollment • Service providers and LWDBs shall make every reasonable effort to refer, and co-enroll, participants post-release in the community-based AJC network. • WorkforceServices Co-Enrollment Policy TN-WIOA (17-7)standardizes the procedures for co-enrolling customers into two (2) or more WIOA programs, including special grant funded programs. Adherence to this policy expands the resources available to assist customers in reaching their career goals. • Co-enrollment will allow customers to access a wider array of services that might otherwise be unavailable.

29. Scenarios

30. Dislocated Worker and TAA Scenarios

31. Questions