WASHINGTON — With access to good jobs and stable employment, adults and youth involved in criminal justice system are less likely to become repeat offenders which strengthens local economies and boosts public safety. However, rehabilitation becomes more difficult when a criminal record impedes the search for employment.
To overcome this dilemma, the U.S. Department of Labor is awarding $59 million to non-profit organizations to develop or expand programs to improve the employment opportunities for adults and youth involved in the criminal justice system. The funds will support programs that offer a range of services that include case management, mentoring, education and training that leads to industry-recognized credentials.
"A good job gives a person a sense of dignity and purpose, and creates a path to the middle class. Returning citizens deserve a second chance and an opportunity to find a good job," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "Expanding opportunity is not just the right thing to do; it's an economic imperative. America is at its best when everyone shares its prosperity. The grants we are announcing today can help make that possible." The department is awarding the grants through two of its programs for those involved in the criminal justice system. The first, its youth-focused "Face Forward" program will fund fifteen grants totaling $31.5 million. Face Forward combines the most promising workforce and juvenile justice strategies to help court-involved youth attain in-demand occupational and employment skills needed to obtain good jobs. Grantees are expected to offer a range of services, including case management with family support, mentoring, training that leads to industry-recognized credentials, and work-based learning opportunities. Funded programs will also help to address the stigma of having a juvenile record by offering services to seal juvenile records and providing opportunities to handle delinquency complaints outside of the juvenile justice system.
The remaining $27.5 million is being awarded through the "Training to Work" program which assists men and women enrolled in state or local work release programs in gaining the job skills necessary for in-demand occupations as they reintegrate back into society. Training to Work incorporates the comprehensive career pathways model which align education and training services to enable workers to attain industry-recognized credentials and find jobs.
Both grant programs target communities with high poverty and high crime rates, as well as areas designated as "Promise Zones " by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Promise Zones partner with local communities and businesses to create jobs, increase economic security, expand educational opportunities, increase access to quality and affordable housing, and improve public safety.
The grants awarded today build on the department's existing efforts to improve employment opportunities for individuals returning from correctional facilities, including $10M to fund pilot projects in 20 communities to develop American Job Centers in county and local jails to prepare inmates for successful careers upon release. In April, the department announced a $12 million grant to expand the successful National Guard Youth and Job Challenge program to enroll court-involved youth in job training and work-based learning programs.
For more information about these programs, please visit http://www.doleta.gov/REO/.
Editor's Note: A list of grantees follows this release.
Face Forward Grantees Intermediary Applicants Grantee City State Award Institute for Educational Leadership Inc.
Washington D.C.
$4,999,551 AMIkids Inc.
Tampa Fla.
$5,000,000 National Urban League Inc.
New York N.Y.
$5,000,000 East Harlem Employment Service Inc.
New York N.Y.
$5,000,000 Total $19,999,551 Community Applicants Grantee City State Award The Dannon Project Birmingham Ala.
$1,050,000 Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona Inc.
Tucson Ariz.
$1,050,000 Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program El Centro Calif.
$1,019,000 The Youth Employment Partnership Inc.
Oakland Calif.
$1,050,000 Youth Policy Institute Los Angeles Calif.
$1,050,000 The WorkPlace Bridgeport Conn.
$1,048,235 Siouxland Human Investment Partnership Sioux City Iowa $1,049,998 First Coast Workforce Development Inc.
Fleming Island Fla.
$1,050,000 Urban League of Rochester, NY Inc.
Rochester N.Y.
$1,050,000 Oasis Center Inc.
Nashville Tenn.
$1,050,000 Total Action Against Poverty in Roanoke Valley Inc.
Roanoke Va.
$1,050,000 Total $11,517,233 Training to Work Grantees Grantee City State Award The Dannon Project Birmingham Ala.
$1,360,000 Friends Outside in Los Angeles County, Inc.
Pasadena Calif.
$1,360,000 Goodwill of Santa Clara County San Jose Calif.
$1,137,655 Homeboy Industries Los Angeles Calif.
$1,162,737 The WorkPlace, Inc.
Bridgeport Conn.
$1,359,845 Operation New Hope, Inc.
Jacksonville Fla.
$1,137,655 Goodwill Industries of the Heartland Iowa City Iowa $1,277,302 Centerstone of Illinois, Inc.
West Frankfort Ill.
$1,360,000 Workforce, Inc.
Indianapolis Ind.
$1,359,726 Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana New Orleans La.
$1,360,000 Goodwill Industries, Inc.
Saint Paul Minn.
$1,080,000 Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow Las Vegas Nev.
$1,360,000 National Urban League, Inc.
New York N.Y.
$1,360,000 Structured Employment Economic Development Corp New York N.Y.
$1,360,000 Alvis, Inc. dba Alvis House Columbus Ohio $1,360,000 Metropolitan Community Services, Inc.
Columbus Ohio $1,358,829 Its My Community Initiative, Inc.
Oklahoma City Okla $1,360,000 Connection Training Services Philadelphia Pa.
$1,360,000 PathStone Corporation Harrisburg Pa.
$1,360,000 Goodwill Industries of San Antonio San Antonio Texas $1,360,000 Total Action Against Poverty in the Roanoke Valley Roanoke Va.
$1,352,863 Total $27,546,612
