Barriers to Barriers to EmploymentEmployment

Danielle RalstonDanielle RalstonEx-Offender Employment SpecialistEx-Offender Employment Specialist

Eaglevision MinistriesEaglevision MinistriesCapital Area Michigan Works!Capital Area Michigan Works!

At Eaglevision Ministries, one At Eaglevision Ministries, one of our primary goals is to of our primary goals is to

assist participants in assist participants in recognizing and addressing recognizing and addressing

their personal barriers to their personal barriers to employment.employment.

Barriers that are ex-offender specific:Barriers that are ex-offender specific:

• Lack of transportation• Lack of education• Lack of family support• Lack of self esteem• Lack of time

management skills• Lack of childcare• Lack of solid work

history

• Substance abuse• Unhealthy

relationships• Soft skill deficiencies • Anger• Single parent• Unstable housing • Mental Health• Victim of domestic

violence

Strengths that ex-offenders possess:Strengths that ex-offenders possess:

• Resilient

• Resourceful

• Adaptive

• Creative

As an Employment Specialist or As an Employment Specialist or Case Manager working with ex-Case Manager working with ex-offender job seekers the key is to:offender job seekers the key is to:

1. Exercise good listening skills2. Be familiar with community resources3. Challenge your participants, but keep

expectations realistic4. Avoid “doing too much” for the participants5. FOLLOW THROUGH!

Case Study 1Case Study 1Name: TamekaAge: 31Barriers: 1. Lack of education2. Lack of solid work

history3. Lack of resume, and

lacks the ability to write a resume

4. Soft skill deficiencies

Tameka’s long term goal includes working in a business office.

Barrier #1: EducationBarrier #1: Education

• Barrier: Tameka lacks basic computer skills and office skills.

Barrier #1: EducationBarrier #1: Education

Plan to address the barrier:• Tameka attended and completed classes

at Career Quest in Keyboarding, Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and Professional Development.

• Tameka is currently enrolled at the University of Phoenix working towards an Associates Degree in Business Administration.

Success!Success!Tameka is now qualified for Administrative Tameka is now qualified for Administrative

Assistant positionsAssistant positions

Barrier #2: Lack of solid work historyBarrier #2: Lack of solid work history

Focus on SKILLS,

not necessarilyformal work experiences

Volunteer Work experiences

whileincarcerated

School/ Vocational

training

Barrier #3: ResumeBarrier #3: ResumeDo this:

Functional resume

Format:Highlights of Qualifications

Skills and ExperienceEducation

Volunteer Experience

Not this: Chronological resume

Format:Most recent job

Second most recent job, etc.

Example of Functional Resume:Example of Functional Resume:Experience

Auto Detailing• Inspect parts, equipment, and vehicles for cleanliness, damage, and compliance with standards

or regulations. • Scrub, scrape, or spray machine parts, equipment, or vehicles, using scrapers, brushes, clothes,

cleaners, disinfectants, insecticides, acid, abrasives, vacuums, and hoses. .Landscaping • Operate powered equipment such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chain-

saws, electric clippers, sod cutters, and pruning saws.• Mow and edge lawns, using power mowers and edgers. • Provide proper upkeep of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, fountains, planters, burial sites, and

other grounds features.Commercial Driving • Maneuver trucks into loading or unloading positions, following signals from loading crew and

checking that vehicle and loading equipment are properly positioned. • Maintain logs of working hours and of vehicle service and repair status, following applicable state

and federal regulations. • Move levers and controls that operate lifting devices, lift beams and swivel-hooks, hoists, and

elevating platforms, to load, unload, transport, and stack material.Food Service• Prepare a variety of foods according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following

approved procedures. • Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, and/or pans using dishwashers or by hand.

Barrier # 4: Soft SkillsBarrier # 4: Soft Skills

What are soft skills?

• the cluster of personality traits, social graces, communication, language, personal habits, friendliness, and optimism that characterize relationships with others.

Question:Question:How are soft skills addressed?How are soft skills addressed?

Answer:

Role playing activities

Role playing activities:Role playing activities:Activity 1: Mock Interviews:

• Appearance• Posture• Hand shake• Practice behavioral interview

questions• Clean fingernails• No cell phone!• Don’t smoke before an

interview• Be there 15 minutes early• Know how to get to the

interview site

Activity 2: Job Retention:(Have participants act this out)

• A co -worker approaches you and asks you a favor. He needs someone to vouch for him and say that he was in the mail room working yesterday from 12:00-2:00 (when you know that he wasn’t because he took an unauthorized extended lunch). However, this co- worker is a friend of yours. He says that if you don’t vouch for him to the supervisor he might lose his job.

Tameka’s results:Tameka’s results:

• Stronger skill set

• Increased confidence

• Community support

• Improved resume and cover letter

• Improved social skills and life skills

• 3 interviews in the past month

Case Study 2Case Study 2

Name: Dellina

Age: 45

Barriers:

1. Unhealthy relationships

2. Substance Abuse/

Mental Health

3. Unstable housing

Dellina’s long term employment goal includes working full time (with benefits) in production.

Barrier 1: Unhealthy Relationships:Barrier 1: Unhealthy Relationships:

“Being in an unhealthy relationship means you are with someone who makes you feel like you can’t succeed. They don’t encourage you to improve yourself. Now I am more hesitant to form relationships so quickly, and I look for red flags.” -Dellina

Relationship Red Flags:Relationship Red Flags:

• You experience pressure to do something that you are uncomfortable with (i.e. sex, drugs, lie, steal, unethical or unprofessional)

• You feel forced to let go of your support system and your interests

• You feel unsafe• You start to lose sight of your goals• You feel like you are always at fault for something• Your partner makes you feel embarrassed in public• You feel like you are always walking on eggshells• You feel threatened

Relationships continued:Relationships continued:

Parenting:• Marriage and Family Counseling• Parenting Classes• Healthcare/ prenatal care

Resources:• Rave: http://www.ravecs.org/• The Women’s Center: http://womenscenterofgreaterlansing.org/• The Haven House: http://www.havenhouseel.org/• Hannah’s House: http://www.hannahshouselansing.org/• MIChild: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch

Domestic Violence:• Couples Workshops• DV Support Groups• Emergency Shelter

Barrier 2: Substance AbuseBarrier 2: Substance AbuseCognitive Behavioral Therapy:

CHANGE THINKING = CHANGE BEHAVIOR

Active drug use negatively affects:• Relationships• Housing• Employment• Education• Self Esteem• Health

Have a point of contact at an inpatient and outpatient facility.

Barrier 3: Unstable Housing:Barrier 3: Unstable Housing:(vicious cycle!)(vicious cycle!)

Loss ofEmployment

Homelessness

Substance Abuse

Unstable Housing cont’d:Unstable Housing cont’d:

Identify CommunityResource: St. Vincent

Catholic Charities Housing Program

Budget Rental Assistance Inspections

Dellina’s results:Dellina’s results:

• Currently lives in her own apartment and pays an appropriate amount of rent based on her income

• Consistently taking medication• Attends weekly/ daily meetings pertaining to

substance abuse, life skills, and healthy relationships/ domestic violence support

• Currently attending substance abuse treatment aftercare

• Currently WORKING full time in her preferred industry with BENEFITS

Eaglevision Monday Ex-Offender Female Eaglevision Monday Ex-Offender Female Employment Support GroupsEmployment Support Groups

When Every Monday (except Federal Holidays)

2:00-3:00 PM- Employment Support Group

3:00-4:00 PM Substance Abuse

Where Capital Area Michigan Works!

2110 S. Cedar Street

Lansing, MI 48910

Topics Covered:

•Healthy relationships•Resume and cover letter development•Practice interviews•Expungement•Retention•Substance Abuse

What are Eaglevision participants saying?What are Eaglevision participants saying?

“I became more motivated after I consistently attended the support group meetings. I learned how to write a resume and network. I have realistic goals that I am working towards”

“The staff at Eaglevision welcomed me back after my relapse with open arms. They hold me accountable for my decisions. I feel like I belong in the support group meetings, and that I have something to contribute.”

“To other woman with criminal backgrounds- go for it! Don’t let your background define you, you can accomplish more than you think you can accomplish.”