Reentry Training Programs Highlighted During April
Second Chance Month takes place every April and helps raise awareness of the barriers and opportunities for people with justice involvement. The National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) hosts Second Chance Month.
The NRRC was established by the Second Chance Act and funds work to improve reentry outcomes nationwide. Recently released data of a study of formerly incarcerated people revealed that a third (33%) of persons in the study population did not find employment at any point during the 16 quarters after their release from prison from 2010 to 2014.
“Goodwill believes all of these individuals deserve a second chance and that the best way to help them be successful is to offer work-related programs that allow them to become self-sufficient,” said Romney Guy, Vice President of Workforce Development.
Among the Goodwill programs and training opportunities available to Fort Worth-area residents who are reentering the community, Goodwill North Central Texas offers Relaunch, a program offering workforce development, job placement, educational training, and other supportive services to individuals with criminal records who are seeking positive re-entry into our communities.
Although there are many barriers that limit the successful reintegration of individuals with criminal records within their communities such as mental illness, substance abuse, lack of education and being banned from receiving certain community resources, one of the biggest barriers to a successful reentry for them is employment.
RELAUNCH WAS CREATED TO BRING AWARENESS THAT:
- People should be hired based on their job skills and abilities and NOT their past mistakes
- Individuals with criminal records CAN be great employees and CAN be a company’s greatest asset
- SECOND CHANCES are needed in order to have a safer and more functioning society
In addition, Goodwill also offers the North Texas Institute for Career Development and the Digital Career Accelerator for anyone interested in learning new skills, getting relevant training or starting on new career paths.
“All month, we are highlighting our ongoing job training and social service offerings that help people who have justice-involvement find jobs and support their families when they return to their communities,” said Guy. “We know from our ongoing job training and skills development programming that when people return from correctional facilities and then find and keep good jobs, they build brighter futures for themselves and their families, and strengthen their communities. Goodwill is proud to do its part to help people transition from justice involvement to advancing in their careers.”
Today, tech jobs are among the most in-demand jobs. Through a variety of partnerships, including with Coursera, Google, Microsoft, Meta (formerly Facebook) and others, Goodwill is uniquely positioned to offer digital training for everything from basic skills to coding. In addition, Goodwill makes it possible for participants to earn online career certificates for new career paths in information technology, project management, data analytics, social media marketing and more.
“Even with more available jobs, we’re seeing an ongoing and widening skills gap that is preventing many of those from the most vulnerable communities from reentering the workforce,” said Steven C. Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “That’s why job training and re-training programs like those at Goodwill North Central Texas continue to be an important and essential way to help people navigate past any past obstacles to get the support they need to get a job or advance within a career.”