Corrections Community

NIC will be publishing a Program Focus document on Career Resource Centers within the next year.  So far, I believe we are going to take a look at programs in Montgomery County, MD (jail), New Mexico, and Vermont (prisons).  If anyone has what they consider to be an outstanding Career Resource Center in a corrections setting, we'd like to hear about some of its unique characteristics for possible inclusion in the Program Focus document.  Thanks!

Melissa,

I have been researching employment of ex-offenders with disabilities resources to use at a forum I am putting together at our employment center with Dept. Vocational Rehabilitation.

So far the program I have been reading about that might sound great for your focus document would be the    saferfoundation.org

check it out

Thanks for the idea.  You're right on the money.  In fact, NIC devoted an entire Program Focus document to Safer.  It's been a little while ago--maybe in 1999? Melissa

The OWDS Training in San Diego is really what started the ball rolling on this end. I would recommend this training to anyone considering heading down this path. Will you be traveling to Vt too Mellisa?

Will NIC also look at the career and resource center at the Pre-Release Center (Montgmery County)?

 

 

I know we are featuring the jail, and perhaps the Pre-Release Center, too. 

Melissa, We developed a Employment Development Corner using some of the disks from the CRC that NIC puts out and added upcoming events, education, and resources. We have shared this with other U.S. Probation Offices. We have are also sharing this with our Nevada Department of Corrections, Washoe County Jail and FCI Herlong. Barbara

The Hutchinson Correctional Facilities in Hutchinson Kansas are in the process of developing resource centers in the maximum, medium and workrelease facilities.  Currently the workrelease resource center is seeing inmates on Wed evenings.  Within the resource room(s) we are providing resources for every day needs when released and focusing on employment.  The resource room staff provides assistance with resumes, KS job bank access, railroad and oilfield referral materials / videos.  Onet assessments are done and counseling provided regarding the type of work a person is seeking or qualified to do. 

Robin

At W.C. Holman Correctional Facility we have developed a CRC 2 to 3 years ago with only donated materials and inmate participation in building the computer cabinets. The computers have been donated 4 times to upgrade to Pentium 3s. It has been difficult with little money. However, NIC has been very helpful with their Onet programs. We found free programs to instuct banking skills. The placed  videos on the computers from programs we produced from our Self-Directed Job Search Program and Financial Management Programs. A computer course has begun. Courses in Career Development and Job Survival and Retention are occassionally presented. We wrote our own Job Search manual which is now use across Alabama in other Prerelease venues. We established a halfway house web site available nationally with about 76 houses throughout Alabama. You have access to our sit at www.doc.alabama.com.

We would like to have access for the inmates for the job services job site. One day maybe. We have a lot to learn and we appreciate your ideas. We will share what we have learned. In a max prison we have learned that prerelease may have to be mandatory at first. Interest by inmates is slow in coming. We are making progress. Thanks for any original ideas. The CRC is catching on in Alabama

Hey Melissa, hope you and yours are doing great!  I am not sure if a Probation department would fall under your program, but I thought I'd let you know what we were doing.

We are working in conjunction with our local One Stop Center to put together some great resources for our Probationers.  First off, in the lobbies where we do our office reports, we are setting up a "Hot Jobs" board that will have about a dozen or so jobs from a variety of different fields posted each week.  In addition, there will be information about upcoming job fairs, as well as tips for job seekers.  We will also have several of the local employment newspapers, delivered to each location.  Part two of our efforts is the acquisition of several "excessed" computers from the One Stop to be set up in an interview room at all the locations that will have assessment tools and instruments available as well as links to resources.  These will have Internet access and printers.  These will be available for the Probationers when working in conjunction with myself or their PO.

The other project that we are in the process of is a partnership with The Office of Women's services, The One Stop Center, Social Services and Probation to create a "Clothing Closet"  This will be housed at the Department of Labor facility that is in the same building as Social Services and Probation in Hauppauge, NY and will be a place where women, children and men who are need of clothing can have access to it.  Our first clothing drive will be from County employees (12,000+ in Suffolk County), and it will be staffed by Public Assistance clients who are on the "Welfare to Work" program working off their grant.  We have some great Community Based Organizations that we already work with who do this, so we are designing ou programs so as not to duplicate too many services. 

Anyway, if this qualifies - please let me know.

Matthew Lucas, OWDS

Employment Programs Coordinator - Suffolk County Probation

Interesting concept. We can use the pointers. Keep up the imaginative ideas.

Richard, I would be interested in reviewing your Financial Management Program materials (we currently use The Money Smart Training Program from FDIC) as well as your Job Search Manual (we currently refer out to Job Search Classes through One Stops).  You can e-mail to me at Barbara_Hunt@nvp.uscourts.gov or call me at 775-686-5983 to get mailing address.  Thanks, Barbara