The Parent Success Initiativea collaboration of

The Center for Community Alternatives & Greater Syracuse WorksMarsha Weissman, Ph.D., Executive Director

Ready, Willing & Able (RWA) - Pathways2Work

Valerie WestphalDirector of Workforce Development and RWA Programs

The Doe Fund

Presentation Overview

Organizational Overviews–The Doe Fund History and RWA Program Summary–Center for Community Alternatives Program Summary

US DOL Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration (ETJD)–The Doe Fund’s ETJD Program Overview–Center for Community Alternatives’ ETJD Program Overview

Benefits of Transitional Employment as Workforce Development Strategy

• Immediate Income• Improved employability and work reference• Skills development (soft and hard skills)• Individuals confidence improves; think of

themselves as workers• Supportive services available• Income serves as incentive to participate in other

services/training and to stay engaged• TJ Best Practices

3

Transitional Jobs: Evidence to Date

• Initial impact on employment• Employment impact dissipates over time• Some programs had an impact on recidivism

Source:

US DOL ETJD Program

• US DOL developed Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration (ETJD) in partnership with US Dept of HHS and DOJ

• 7 grants awarded nationally: New York State was the only state to receive two awards – DOE Fund– Center for Community Alternatives (CCA)

• Target Populations– Individuals with Conviction Histories released from prison

within 120 days: DOE FUND PROGRAM– Non-custodial Parents: CCA PROGRAM

• Service Enhancements• Random Assignment Evaluation

US DOL ETJD Program Deliverables

• Intake Goals– 1OOO recruited at each site over two years– 500 become “treatment group”– 500 become “control group”

• Outcomes to be Measured– 60% of enrollees gain unsubsidized employment – 75% of those will retain employment– $9.00 average wage– 22% -- decrease in recidivism rate– Consistent payment of child support

About The Doe Fund• Multi-disciplinary human services and workforce

development agency

• Approx. $50 million annual operating budget

• Working to break interrelated cycles of homelessness, criminal recidivism, unemployment, and addiction

Founded by George McDonald during peak of homelessness crisis in New York City:– Fed homeless in Grand Central for 700 consecutive nights– They repeatedly asked for “a room and a job to pay for it”– “Mama” Doe dies on Christmas Day, 1985 – Doe Fund

created in her name– RWA program developed to fulfill self-identified needs of

homeless individuals

About The Doe Fund (cont’d.)

Ready, Willing & Able: Early Years• 1990: participants recruited from Grand Central,

other shelters• Paid transitional work: originally, renovations of city-

owned apartments • 1995: new Mayor Giuliani slashes housing budgets,

resulting in >60% cut to Doe Fund contracts• “Men in Blue” arrive on East 86th Street• First venture in social entrepreneurship (a needed

service + jobs for participants + funds for program)

The Men in Blue

• Cleans over 150 miles of NYC streets• Added three more social entrepreneurial businesses• Training incentive: $7.40/hr (to $8.15 after 6 mos.)• Weekly automatic deductions: $105 for program

contribution; $54 for savings• $1,000 graduate incentive

– Given over 5 months, in installments of $200 – Requires proof of employment, housing & sobriety– Promotes employment retention

Ready, Willing & Able: Today

1. Paid Transitional Work and Training– “In-House” Assignment (X hours/week, 1 month)• Custodial, kitchen, light maintenance• Serves as evaluation period

– “Field” Assignment (35 hours/week, 8–10 months)• Begin with Street Cleaning, Security or Kitchen• Advanced Occupational Trainings (includes Resource

Recovery, Pest at Rest, Back Office ventures)

Ready, Willing & Able Services: Foundation for ETJD

2. Substance Abuse Services– Random Drug Testing (2x/week)– Relapse Prevention Services (as needed)

3. Individual Case Management (1x/week)

4. Career Development– Career Development 101 (Month 4; 1x/week for 6 weeks)– Career Development 102 (Month 7; 1x/week for 5 weeks)

5. Life Skills and Education– Financial Management– Adult Education (on-site classes available)

Ready, Willing & Able: Services

Classroom Based Occupational TrainingIncreases training, qualifications and certifications

• Energy Efficient Building Maintenance• Computer Skills Training – Computer Lab Assistant• Driver’s Education• NYS Food Handler’s Certification and ServSafe• Pest Control Training (Pest at Rest)• Commercial Driver’s License (Resource Recovery)

Pathways2Work (P2W)

• 6-month transitional work program

• Job retention and career advancement support

• Cohort-based

• Staged employment model- 2 months with The Doe Fund- 2 months paid internship with partners

• Transitional work assignments – 3 days/week

• Education / Instruction – 2 days/week– Computer Skills Training– Parenting Workshops– Cognitive Behavior Therapy– Career Pathways 101, 102, 103– Healthy Behaviors– Financial Management

Pathways2Work (P2W)

Intensive Re-entry Focus

Staged Employment: Involved Employer Partners

Cohort Model: Peer Support and Mentorship

Enhancements: P2W vs. RWA

The Center for Community Alternatives

• Mission: to reduce the use of incarceration and foster community reintegration

• Promote public safety, civil rights and human rights

• Direct services• Research, training and policy advocacy through

CCA/Justice Strategies• Offices throughout NYS: NYC; Syracuse; Buffalo &

Rochester

Services to Reduce Incarceration

• Sentencing Advocacy• Employment• Gender-specific drug treatment• Specialized juvenile justice programs• HIV and Health programs

Copyright (c) 2009 New York University

Review of Law & Social ChangeARTICLE:

ASPIRING TO THE IMPRACTICABLE: ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION

IN THE ERA OF MASS INCARCERATION

SENTENCING FOR DOLLARS:THE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES OFA CRIMINAL CONVICTION

Greater Syracuse Works

A community partnership ofnon-profit community-based organizations,educational institutions, governmentalagencies, businesses, andcommunity residents

GSW – CCA Collaborations

• GSW – workforce collaboration for hard-to-employment populations

• CCA – holistic services for people with criminal records

• Early experience showed that 70% of participants in GSW collaborations had criminal history records

• Barriers to employment attach to the criminal record

GSW Support Service Coordination

(Subcontract)

GSW Support Service Coordination

(Subcontract)

CCA Operations ManagerCCA Operations Manager

Transitional Jobs 4 day work-week 1 day job seeking skills, job

search, support services Paid participation – weekly wage Placement into competitive jobs

may occur from the TJ program

Transitional Jobs 4 day work-week 1 day job seeking skills, job

search, support services Paid participation – weekly wage Placement into competitive jobs

may occur from the TJ program

Support Services Legal – Family law, Civic Restoration Literacy/Education – Basic Ed, Pre-GED,

Certificate Industry-Recognized Credentials – NWRC,

NCRC Life Skills Training - Parenting/

Communication/Relationships Job Skill Training – Certificates, degree

programs Family Mediation Financial Literacy Referrals – MH, DV, D & A counseling

Support Services Legal – Family law, Civic Restoration Literacy/Education – Basic Ed, Pre-GED,

Certificate Industry-Recognized Credentials – NWRC,

NCRC Life Skills Training - Parenting/

Communication/Relationships Job Skill Training – Certificates, degree

programs Family Mediation Financial Literacy Referrals – MH, DV, D & A counseling

Case Management Services Multiple subcontracts with organizations

located in the communities they serve

Case Management Services Multiple subcontracts with organizations

located in the communities they serve

Key Referral Sources: Family

Court, Child Support, Criminal

Justice

Work Readiness TrainingFocus on work behavior,

attendance, peer & supervisor relationships

Work Readiness TrainingFocus on work behavior,

attendance, peer & supervisor relationships

Job Development Job development Employer events, tours,

presentations Practice Interviews Coordination with case

managers

Job Development Job development Employer events, tours,

presentations Practice Interviews Coordination with case

managers

Participant Supports

Work/interview clothing Transportation – bus passes

Participant Supports

Work/interview clothing Transportation – bus passes

Planning Advisory Committee Employer &

Participant Advisory Councils

Lead Agency: CCAIntake & Random Assignment

Lead Agency: CCAIntake & Random Assignment

Case Management

• Holistic services with an employment focus• Help prepare participants for transitional and

unsubsidized jobs• Connect participants to service enhancements• Assist in job development and job placement

Work Readiness Training“LEADERS”

• Developed by CCA and GSW• Based in part on Offender Workforce Development

(National Institute of Corrections)• Topics – Written and verbal communication– Work habits– Interpersonal relationships/Conflict management– Teamwork – Career planning– Work crew procedures and processes

Transitional Jobs

• Work crew experience• Close supervision• Weekly pay• Daily feedback• Worksites: Syracuse Housing Authority;

exploration of private business partner

Service Enhancements

• Legal assistance with child support issues• Civic Restoration to address criminal history issues• Literacy – Basic Ed, Pre-GED, GED• Industry-Recognized Credentials – NWRC• Job Skills Training – Certifications• Life Skills Training – Parenting, Financial Literacy• Participant Supports – clothing, tools, transportation• Referrals – Mental Health, Domestic Violence, Substance

Abuse and Recovery Supports

Valerie WestphalDirector of Workforce Development and RWA Programs

The Doe Fundwww.doe.org

Marsha Weissman, PhDExecutive Director

Center for Community Alternativeswww.comunityalternatives.org