Transaction Description:
READY4WORK - MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ENHANCEMENTS - PEOPLE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION FACE A MULTITUDE OF BARRIERS. LIMITED ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES ARE AMONG THE GREATEST OBSTACLES. WITHOUT THESE STABILIZING RESOURCES, PEOPLE ARE LESS CONNECTED TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEREFORE, FAR MORE LIKELY TO RE-OFFEND AND RETURN TO INCARCERATION. WITHOUT SUCCESSFUL REENTRY PROGRAMS LIKE READY4WORK THAT CONNECT RETURNING CITIZENS TO THESE SERVICES, COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCE HIGHER RATES OF CRIME, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND RECIDIVISM, WHICH ARE ALL DRAINS ON THE LOCAL TAX BASE AND OVERALL ECONOMY. ACCORDING TO A 2018 PRISON POLICY INITIATIVE REPORT, “FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE ARE ALMOST FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BE UNEMPLOYED, AND MANY WHO ARE EMPLOYED REMAIN RELEGATED TO THE MOST INSECURE JOBS.” RELATEDLY, APPROXIMATELY 68% OF THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED ARE REARRESTED WITHIN 3 YEARS ACCORDING TO THE US BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS 2018 UPDATE ON PRISONER RECIDIVISM. AT OPERATION NEW HOPE, WE SUPPORT, TRAIN, AND MOTIVATE PEOPLE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE, RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS SAVING TAXPAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BY AVOIDING REPEATED COST OF INCARCERATION AND LOST TAX REVENUE, AND HELPING TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF INCARCERATION AND POVERTY FOR THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN. IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE 4-PRONGED APPROACH (CASE MANAGEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, JOB TRAINING, AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE), OUR READY4WORK REENTRY PROGRAM ENSURES EACH CLIENT SUCCEEDS AT RECONNECTING TO THE WORKFORCE, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY. UPON ACCEPTANCE INTO THE READY4WORK PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO REMAIN DRUG-FREE AND ATTEND A COMPREHENSIVE JOB TRAINING PROGRAM FEATURING LIFE AND EMPLOYMENT SKILLS. CLIENTS ALSO RECEIVE WRAPAROUND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TAILORED TO MEET THEIR PERSONAL NEEDS AND GOALS. CLIENTS ARE PAIRED WITH A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR AND CASE MANAGER WHO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN OF CARE. EACH CLIENT IS ALSO ASSIGNED A JOB COACH TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT, LEADING TO JOB PLACEMENT WITH TARGETED EMPLOYMENT PARTNERS. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND OFFER VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO PROVIDE OUR CLIENTS WITH A COMPETITIVE EDGE THAT LEADS TO LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT. POVERTY AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FOR THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED ARE MAIN DRIVERS OF RECIDIVISM. TO ALLEVIATE IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, CLIENTS CAN EARN INCENTIVES AND STIPENDS WHILE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM, AND RECEIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION, VITAL DOCUMENTS, FOOD AND CLOTHING. WE PARTNER WITH TRANSITIONAL HOUSES AND PAY UP TO 3 MONTHS OF SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING ALLOWING CLIENTS TO FOCUS ON SECURING LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT AND DEVELOPING THE HEALTHY HABITS NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL UPON REENTRY. OUR READY4WORK PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO: - SUPPORT PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND INCARCERATION, - PROMOTE SECOND CHANCE HIRING PRACTICES TO MAKE GOOD ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION GOALS, - PROVIDE TRAINING IN RELEVANT, CAREER-PATHWAY SKILLS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MODERN INDUSTRY, - PREPARE EMPLOYERS TO RECEIVE WORKERS FROM THIS COMMUNITY AND CHALLENGE STIGMAS, - DELIVER WRAP-AROUND SERVICES THAT SUPPORT EMPLOYEES FOR SUCCESS, WHICH INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR. OPERATION NEW HOPE'S READY4WORK PROGRAM PRODUCES MULTIPLE COMMUNITY BENEFITS: - INCREASED PUBLIC SAFETY - REDUCED RECIDIVISM - DECREASED TAX BURDEN ASSOCIATED WITH INCARCERATION COSTS - INCREASED TAX REVENUE - NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION - THE IMPROVED ECONOMIC AND MENTAL HEALTH OF SOME THE CITY’S NEEDIEST CITIZENS. OUR READY4WORK PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM OF COERCIVE MOBILITY AND PROVIDES A STRUCTURED SOCIAL FRAMEWORK, OTHERWISE ABSENT OR DEPLETED IN HIGH INCARCERATION AND HIGH POVERTY NEIGHBORHOODS, NECESSARY FOR CULTIVATING THE HUMAN CAPITAL IN THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED TO PREPARE