WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $12 million in additional funding to 24 programs that are currently operating prisoner re-entry programs through the Reintegration of Ex-Offenders initiative.
"Rehabilitated ex-offenders are returning to communities across the country in record numbers. And today's funding continues our commitment to supporting programs that will help them re-enter society and transition to stable careers," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.
Launched in 2004, the Reintegration of Ex-Offenders initiative provides grants to faith-based and community organizations to help strengthen urban communities and assist ex-offenders re-entering the community. This funding is accomplished through employment-centered programming that incorporates job training, mentoring and other supportive services. Department of Labor grant funds are used to provide a variety of services to ex-offenders including workforce development services, job training, on-the-job training, work experience, basic skills remediation, counseling, case management and mentoring.
In 2008, the Labor Department held a limited competition among 30 existing first-generation grants and subsequently funded 24 of the 30 grants for a fourth year of program funding and operation. The department currently is providing $500,000 in fifth-year funding to each grantee.
These programs operate in conjunction with grants from the U.S. Department of Justice, which provides funding to state criminal justice agencies that offer pre-release and referral services to soon-to-be released offenders.
Visit http://www.doleta.gov to learn more about the range of Department of Labor employment and training programs and initiatives.
Editor's Note: A list of grantees and funding amounts is below.
Reintegration of Ex-Offenders Initiative Grantees | Applicant | City | State | Total Grant Award (including $500,000 awarded today) | | The Primavera Foundation Inc.
| Tucson | Ariz.
| $2,916,765 | | Arizona Women's Education and Employment Inc.
| Phoenix | Ariz.
| $2,916,765 | | Metro United Methodist Urban Ministry | San Diego | Calif.
| $2,933,553 | | MAAP Inc.
| Sacramento | Calif.
| $2,916,765 | | Fresno Career Development Institute Inc.
| Fresno | Calif.
| $2,916,765 | | The Empowerment Program | Denver | Colo.
| $2,916,765 | | Community Partners in Action Inc.
| Hartford | Conn.
| $2,935,635 | | OIC Of Broward County Inc.
| Ft Lauderdale | Fla.
| $2,918,105 | | The Safer Foundation | Chicago | Ill.
| $2,927,361 | | The Directors Council | Des Moines | Iowa | $2,916,765 | | The Church United for Community Development | Baton Rouge | La.
| $2,915,041 | | Odyssey House Louisiana Inc.
| New Orleans | La.
| $2,985,363 | | Episcopal Community Services of Maryland | Baltimore | Md.
| $2,910,932 | | Span Inc.
| Boston | Mass.
| $2,916,765 | | Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency | Pontiac | Mich.
| $2,916,765 | | St. Patrick Center | St. Louis | Mo.
| $2,916,765 | | Connections to Success | Kansas City | Mo.
| $2,915,158 | | Career Opportunity Development Inc.
| Egg Harbor City (serving Atlantic County) | N.J.
| $2,916,765 | | Talbert House | Cincinnati | Ohio | $2,916,765 | | SE Works Inc.
| Portland | Ore.
| $2,916,765 | | Connection Training Services | Philadelphia | Pa.
| $2,916,765 | | Goodwill Industries of San Antonio | San Antonio | Texas | $2,925,378 | | Urban League of Greater Dallas & North Central Texas | Dallas | Texas | $2,916,765 | | People of Color Against AIDS Network | Seattle | Wash.
| $2,916,765 |
