Transcript Providing Employment Services to Individuals with

Providing Employment
Services to Individuals with
Disabilities who have
Criminal Backgrounds
Danie Eagleton
September 14, 2011
2
Areas to be cover
• Elements that need to be considered before
•
•
•
•
•
placing an individual
The supports that need to be in place
Money as a Trigger
How to work the employer community
The use of second chance employers
Working in partnership with the criminal
justice system
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
3
Imagine…
Imagine you are looking at a file of a newly assigned
client. You are preparing to meet the client for the
first time and to complete an the initial intake.
Here are a few brief points from the client summary that
you read:
• 34 year old, African-American male
• Client has severe persistent mental illness and symptoms (PTSD,
•
•
•
•
•
hears voices )
Client had been in and out of foster care during his childhood.
Client had difficulty in school but has completed his GED
Client has a history of alcohol and drug abuse
Client has an offender background that includes drug charges,
burglary, felony and misdemeanors
Client reports that he wants a job.
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
4
Let’s look at the file again:
• 34 year old, African-American male
• Client has successfully completed alcohol and drug
•
•
•
•
treatment program and has been sober for 2 years.
Client lives his life managing his PTSD. He takes
medication to manage his symptoms of hearing voices
Client’s criminal charges are 10 years old
Client worked in the kitchen when he was in prison. He
enjoys cooking.
Client reports that he wants a job.
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
5
Being able to see the
individual
• Seeing the person not the offense
• Telling the person’s story positively
• Helping the person realize what skills they have to build
•
•
on
Looking for dependable strength
Translating what they have done before into possible job
tasks
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
6
(Atticus Finch) Harper Lee-To
Kill a Mockingbird
"You never really understand a
person until you consider things from
his point of view...until you climb into
his skin and walk around in it."
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
7
Getting to know your client
• Create a warm and welcoming atmosphere
• Develop trust by listening to your client share
•
•
•
his or her story.
Be open and non-judgmental
Your goal is gather as much information as
you can to help your client to be successful
Ask questions and leave space for clients to
answer.
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
8
Believe
• Communicate your belief in your client.
• Create an atmosphere, a foundation for
•
growth that inspires possibility and work
towards opportunity.
If you can’t see your client working, he or she
will not be working
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
9
Different Conversations
Frequently VRCs or CRPs need to have
different conversations with offenders:
• Understanding the conditions of their probation or parole
• Knowing what are the triggers for the person
 Settings
 Money
 People
• Dealing with grief, anger and lack of belief
• Not understanding the rules of work
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
10
The Power of a person’s goals
The VRC can help:
• The person visualize working and understand that they
can be successful
• Setting goals helps the person visualize where he or
she wants to go
• The goal can provide the direction that allows the
individual to take concrete steps towards the goal.
• Frequently individuals need to set small goals that can
be built on and provides them with the believe they can
be successful.
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
11
Elements that need to be considered
before placing an individual
• Client’s plan for re-entry
• Client’s support
• Programs or community agencies that can give
additional assistance to the client
• Skill Development and Education
• Housing, financial assistance, clothing
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
12
Risk
•
•
•
•
Help the client think about what are the risks?
Whose risks are they?
Are the risks reversible?
What supports or conditions will the client need from the
work environment
• What employment situations should be avoided
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
13
The supports that need to be in
place
• Clients can be successful if they have a good support
•
system
Supports can include anyone that helps the client to be
at their best.
 Alcohol & Drug, Mental Health, Housing counselors
and case managers
 Correction officers
 Church
 Groups
 Social Activity groups
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
14
The supports that need to be in
place
Skill Development and Education
• Job training
• Computer literacy
• Soft Skills
• Community colleges
• Technical colleges
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
15
Creating opportunities for
support Groups
• Job Club – Specific focus on offenders with
•
•
disabilities
CD Voc group
Discovery group
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
16
Answers You Need to Know
before you Talk to an Employer
• Does your state or local laws prevent the consideration of certain
•
•
•
•
convictions? Some states expressly prohibit employers from hiring
ex-offenders if the job and the crime are directly related, such as
hiring a convicted sex offender for a child care position.
Do industry regulations restrict employing ex-offenders who have
committed certain crimes? The banking industry, for example,
prohibits the employment of individuals who have been convicted of
financial fraud.
How relevant is the conviction to the job? Think of the crime as it
relates to the core job duties.
How long ago did the conviction occur? In general, the more recent
the conviction is, the more concerns employers will have.
What rehabilitation has the person been through, if any?
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
17
How to work the employer
community
• Research and investigate companies diversity policies,
mission statements, and requirements/restrictions
regarding criminal backgrounds
• Look for social entrepreneurships that have a focus on
working with offenders.
 Example: Delancey Street (San Francisco, Los
Angeles, New Mexico, North Carolina, and New York)
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
18
Network, Network, Network
• Creating relationships is the key to creating job
opportunities
• Attend chamber of commerce meetings to meet
employers
• Attend HR professional association meetings
• Locate and attend any type of 2nd Chance employer
events. (If there isn’t one-create one!)
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
19
Strategies
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Visual Resume
Mentoring programs
Obtaining sponsorships
Informational interviews
Understanding how you are meeting a business need
Elevator speeches on what you have to offer
Knowing how to reframe your story positively
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
20
The use of second chance
employers
• What’s a second chance employer?
• Second Chance industries
 Restaurant
 Manufacturing
 Warehouse
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
21
Cultivating Second Chance
employers
• Create a strategy to cultivate second chance employers
• Talk with business about being open to offering
employment to offenders
• Discuss possible partnership opportunities with DVR
• Discuss tax credit incentives
• Discuss Bonding opportunities
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
22
Working in partnership with the
criminal justice system
• Everything is about creating relationships.
• People you want to get to know:





Public Defenders
Judges
Correction officers
Case managers
Connect with all areas of the Criminal justice system
(City, County, State and Federal)
 Agencies that work with offenders
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
23
Working in partnership with the
criminal justice system
Get training on the criminal justice system
 Have a public defender, prosecutor, or agency
professional train your staff on the system
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
24
Share your success
CRPs and VRCs are in a special partnership that
lays the foundation for a client’s success
It takes both of you
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
25
A Success Story - James
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
26
Resources
National H.I.R.E. Network
http://www.hirenetwork.org
National Transitional Jobs Network
http://www.heartlandalliance.org/ntjn
National Reentry Resource Center
http://www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org
Washington State Employment Re-Entry Guide
http://www.wa.gov/esd/oes/docs/ReEntryGuide8-30.pdf
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
27
More Resources
• SCORE – JBMS
http://app.score.gov.sg/loginexoff.aspx
SCORE Employment Assistance Unit (EAU) assists exoffenders in their job search by matching them with
companies that are open to employing ex-offenders.
• How Ex-Offenders Can Find a Job - CVTips.com
http://www.cvtips.com/job-search/how-ex-offenders-can-finda-job-.html
There are several assistance programs available to help exoffenders in their job search. The assistance officers at these
programs interview the applicants and refer ...
• Employment Information Handbook For Ex-Offenders
http://www.exoffender.org/up/docs/Exohandbook.pdf
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
28
Comments & Questions
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
29
Contact Information
Danie Eagleton, M.ED LHMC
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.Deagletonhope.com
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
30
THANK YOU!
be the change you want to see in the world
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
31
Upcoming Webinars:
Offender Webinar Series
Obtaining Employment Outcomes for Individuals with
Disabilities who have Criminal Backgrounds
• September 14 – Providing Employment Services to
Individuals with Disabilities who have Criminal Backgrounds
• October 19, 2011 – Overview of the Legal Consideration
Providers and VRCs should know when working with
Offenders
• November 15, 2011 – Using Customized Employment for
Individuals with Disabilities who have Criminal Backgrounds
• December 14, 2011 – Forensic Employment Programs for
Offenders with Mental Health Disabilities
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
32
Education Credits
CRCC Credit - (2.0)
Approved by Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor
Certification (CRCC)
• By Friday September 23, 2011, participants must
score 80% or better on a online Post Test
and submit an online CRCC Request Form via the
MyTACE Portal.
My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportal
**For CRCC credit, you must reside in the 8 U.S. Southeast states served by the TACE
Region IV [AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN]. If beyond TACE Region IV, you may apply for
CEU credit.
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
33
Southeast TACE (Region IV)
Toll-free: (866) 518-7750 [voice/tty]
Fax: (404) 541-9002
Web: TACEsoutheast.org
My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportal
Email: [email protected]
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011
34
Disclaimer
This presentation was developed by the
TACE Center: Region IV ©2011 with funds from
the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation
Services Administration (RSA) under the priority of
Technical Assistance and Continuing Education
Projects (TACE) – Grant #H264A080021. However,
the contents of this presentation do not necessarily
represent the policy of the RSA and you should not
assume endorsement by the Federal Government
[34 CFR 75.620 (b)].
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011