I am continuing to look at the interface of Federal WIA (Workforce Investment Act) and State WIA Boards/Regional WIA Boards
and Adult Corrections (Inmate Training, Parolee Training, Re-Entry Offender Workforce Development Issues)
As you may know, the Federal WIA, which has predecessors including JTPA (Job Training Partnership Act) and CETA,
is coming up for Federal Reauthorzation during Calendar Year 2010, probably during FFY (Federal Fiscal Year 2010,
which is between October 1 2009 and September 30 2010)
Is anyone aware of the policy positions of ACA (American Correctional Association), AJA (American Jails Association)
ACA affiliates and individual adult correctional agencies on this important forthcoming Reauthorization of Federal Legislation
and the accompanying funding which accompanies a Reauthorized Federal WIA, as I understand it?
Few States may have State Adult Correction Directors/Commissioners on their State WIA Boards. Some Regional WIA
Boards within States may have prison and jail administrators on their Boards.
Does anyone know of model programs involving State/Regional WIA Board funding to innovative, exemplary programs for
offender workforce development involving inmate job training in the prisons/jails, parolee job training in the communjity,
and related re-entry ofrfender workforce development issues?
I do understand that California is a leader in terms of State-Level collaboration between the California State WIA Board
and the California CDCR (Adult Corrections, which includes both inmate job training in the prisons and parolee job
training in the community).
Are there any other States that you are aware of that have such type collaboration at the State Level between the State WIA
Board and the State DOC/Adult Corrections (institutional as well as post/release parolees)?
Finally, a related WIA issue for adult corrections is Title II (Adult Education). In most States I understand that such WIA Title II
funding does not go to adult corrections for in-prison adult ed programs. In a few States, I understand, such WIA
Title IIA funding does go to adult corrections for in-prison adult ed programs. I also understand there is proposed Federal
Legislation, one of the sponsors may be Mr Hinojosa (D-Texas), who chairs the House Ed/Labor Subcommittee charged with
the ground work (hearings etc) on Federal WIA Reauthorization----and that this Legislation will mandate that each State
spend a certain portion of their WIA Title II funding on adult institutional corrections. Are you aware of any individual
States with exemplary track records of allocation and spending of Federal WIA Title II funding for adult institutional
in-prison adult ed programs?
In summary, Federal WIA, its forthcoming hopeful Reauthorization by the Congress and the President, and individual State-Level
and Regional-Level actions (funding of programs etc) by State WIA Boards/Regional WIA Boards in collaboration with State Level
Corrections (Prisons/Institutions, Parole) and with the Jails Community--may be a powerful tool for enhancing offender workforce
development innovations in in-prison job training, in-prison adult education, and post-release parolee offender workforce
development areas
Thank you for any possible insights and assistance.
Leonard I Morgenbesser PhD-Albany NY