Transcript Master Title

Transitional Jobs: Giving Everyone the
Opportunity to Succeed in Work
Employing Transitional Jobs as a Workforce
Strategy for Disconnected and Court-Involved
Youth
www.transitionaljobs.net
History Of Transitional Jobs
1930’s: Works Progress Administration – provided jobs and income to
unemployed during depression. At peak – 3.3 million people provided
work each month through program.
1970s:
– Public Service Employment Program - created 150,000
transitional jobs for unemployed favoring veterans, those with little or
no job training, and unskilled youth.
– CETA programs that created subsidized jobs in public and nonprofit
sectors.
– National Supported Work Demonstration – provided individuals
with severe employment problems with work experience of a year or
so, under close supervision and gradually increasing demands.
History Of Transitional Jobs,
Continued
2009:
– Today, Transitional Jobs programs serve all people with
barriers to employment – TANF recipients, people with
criminal records, youth, people experiencing
homelessness, public housing residents, veterans &
refugees.
–
There are programs in over 30 states
What is Transitional Jobs: Definition
Transitional Jobs (TJ) is a workforce strategy
designed to overcome employment obstacles
by using
time-limited, wage-paying jobs that
combine real work, skill development, and
supportive services,
to transition participants successfully
into the labor market.
TJ Definition Break Down:
“Time-limited, Wage-paying Jobs”
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Subsidized jobs in a non-profit, for profit,
and/or government setting
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Time-limited. The TJ typically lasts 3-9
months depending upon the population &
participant needs
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Wage-paid
TJ Definition Break Down:
“Skill Development”

TJ programs offer the opportunity to learn
and re-learn behaviors of work

Soft-skill Development sometimes combined
with Hard-skill Development

Access to industry specific training, bridge
programs, and educational opportunities
TJ Definition Break Down:
“Supportive Services”

TJ programs have a strong employment case
management structure and wrap-around
support with linkages to the following:
Transportation
Housing
Child Care
Substance Abuse
Clothing
Mental Health
Probation/Parole Requirements
TJ Definition Break Down:
“Transition participants successfully
into the labor market”

Transition TJ participants into unsubsidized
work in nonprofit or for profit job site following
TJ placement.

Retention Support
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Linkages to education & training
TJ Definition Break Down:
What does it mean?
The premise of Transitional Jobs programs is that
everyone can work.
TJ is a stepping stone out of poverty for populations
with barriers to employment.
Transitional Jobs programs offer experiential workplace
learning so participants can:
• gain on-the-job success
• build work history
• increase stability at a job
• increase soft and hard job skills
Transitional Jobs Program Elements
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Orientation & Assessment
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Job Readiness/Life Skills Classes
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Case Management Support
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Transitional Job - Real Work Experience
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Unsubsidized Job Placement & Retention
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Linkages to Education and Training
Transitional Jobs Program Elements:
Orientation and Assessment
Goal is to assess needs in the following areas:
• Academic skills
•
Vocational goals and interests
•
Employment experience
•
Counseling requirements
•
Non-employment system commitments
•
Drug testing – to identify not exclude
Transitional Jobs Program Elements:
Job Readiness/Life Skills Classes
Goal is to prepare participants for success in
both subsidized and unsubsidized work:
• Resume writing
• Employment application
• Interview skills
• Budgeting a paycheck
• Review income supports
• Basic financial literacy
• Goals/next steps
Transitional Jobs Program Elements:
Case Management Support & Linkages
Goal is to manage barriers and support life
skills development:
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•
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Work-focused, individual career and service plan
Ongoing counseling to succeed in work
Linkages to supports:
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•
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Childcare
Healthcare
Stable housing
Transportation
Complying with parole or probation
ESL/GED/Vocational Training
Transitional Jobs Program Elements:
Transitional Job
Goal is to provide real work experience
supported with wages:
• Lasts 3-9 months (typically 3-4 months)
• Work 20-35 hours per week
• Wage is usually state or Federal minimum wage
• There is weekly review of job performance reports
• Support to manage barriers
Transitional Jobs Program Elements:
Unsubsidized Job Placement
Goal is to assist TJ participant in finding and
unsubsidized job placement:
• Work with Job Development staff while in TJ
• Job retention services—best practice is at least 6 months of
follow-up including participant incentives
• For-profit employers typically agree to hire participants once
the Transitional Job is complete
Outcomes of Transitional Jobs
Programs
TJ participants are more likely to be employed and stay employed
following TJ. 72% of Community Jobs (TJ) participants found gainful employment.
92% of Transitional Work Corporation participants found gainful employment. On
average a TJ participants show a 20% higher rate of employment and 17%
increase in job retention as compared to those not in TJ.

TJ participants show increased wages and less reliance on public
benefits over time. Average income of post-TJ workers increased 60% during first
two years in the workforce and is 148% higher than pre-TJ income.

Dramatic reductions in recidivism for persons engaged in TJ programs
within 90 days of release. MDRC study shows 50% reduction in recidivism for
those persons engaged in TJ program within 90 days of release.
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Why Transitional Jobs for Youth?

Many youth are not prepared to succeed in today’s
workplace or the workforce of the future:
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–
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30% of young people who enter public high school do not
graduate four years later.
Unemployment rate is much higher than overall jobs market—
and currently at an all-time high since record-keeping began in
1948
Graduation rate for African American and Native American
youth is only 50%
Why Transitional Jobs for Youth?
continued
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Disconnected youth face many barriers to
entering and succeeding in the workforce:
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Incomplete education
Lack of work experience and references
Unclear career direction
Unstable housing
Overwhelming personal and family circumstances
TJ Provides Necessary Work
Experience for Disconnected Youth
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The transitional work component of TJ builds a
work history and develops solid work references.
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Employers are more likely to hire individuals with
prior work experience and references

Establishes an experiential base from which youth
can make a successful transition into the regular
workforce.
Transitional Jobs for Youth—
Program Example

Roca, Boston
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Youth development organization serving disenfranchised and
disengaged young people ages 14-24--street/court/gang involved;
drop-outs; young parents; and refugees & immigrants
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Operates social enterprise providing TJ work experience in painting &
maintenance

Currently has 28 TJ slots employing about 120 youth per year; plans
to offer 45-50 slots
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65% of 101 young people who completed the Transitional
Employment Program over a two year period were successfully
placed in unsubsidized employment
Transitional Jobs for Youth—
Program Example

Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) Young Adult Program

CEO provides Transitional Jobs to formerly incarcerated people in
New York City—in the last decade CEO has placed over 10,000
people in unsubsidized permanent employment

CEO’s Young Adult Program focuses on formerly incarcerated young
adults age 18-25.

Young Adult participants work fewer hours and receive more intensive
supportive services than CEO’s general program, and participate in
specialized young adult programming based in part on Roca’s model

Young Adult Program participants are 1.4 times more likely to be
placed in a job than people in the same age group in CEO’s regular
program
Transitional Jobs Program Structures
 Scattered Site – Participants work in for-profit, nonprofit or government sites with 1-2 workers per site.
(Examples: Heartland Human Care Services, TWC, GA Goodworks and WA
Community Jobs)
 Work Crew – Crews of 5-7 people work on a project
often within maintenance, janitorial, parks, and
community renewal projects. (Examples: CEO, Roca, Doe Fund)
 Social Enterprise – Participants work as an employee of
the product or service revenue generating arm of an
organization. (Examples: Sweet Beginnings, Circle Catering, Goodwill)
TJ Program Structures:
Individual Placement / Scattered Site
ADVANTAGES
1)
2)
3)
Maximum Choice – Matching job
site and participant skills/interests.
Diversity & Number of Employer
Relationships – Community buy-in
and support through employer
engagement and relationship
building. = Strong Champions.
“Realest” of Real Work
Experience - Participant working
with people NOT in an employment
program. Immediate feedback from
colleagues and peers.
CHALLENGES
1)
2)
3)
Staff Intensive – Monitoring
individual job sites (subsidized &
unsubsidized )and participants.
Diversity & Number of Employer
Relationships – A lot of
relationships to manage. Need for
good organization.
High Need for Role Clarity,
Communication of Expectations
- Program staff must set clear roles
and expectations of employer.
Employment site mentor is critical.
TJ Program Structure:
Work Crews
ADVANTAGES
1)
2)
3)
4)
High Control – Work environment
is highly controlled by crew leader.
Job Developer Role Streamlined –
Job developer concentrates on
unsubsidized placement sites only.
Daily Observation of Progress –
Supervisor onsite to see growth and
progress of participant.
“Good” Peer Pressure – Group of
participants helps foster adherence
to ideal behaviors of work.
CHALLENGES
1)
2)
3)
Less Flexibility – Job environment is
less flexible to TJ participant
skills/interests.
Job Congruency – What jobs are
participants transitioning to in
unsubsidized employment?
Focus on Behaviors of Work –
Work setting forces TJ program to
think critically about behaviors of work
that must be achieved before
transition.
TJ Program Structure:
Social Enterprises
ADVANTAGES
1)
2)
3)
4)
Maximum Control - Every TJ
position is one you develop and
manage through your business.
Diversified Work Experience –
Participant has the opportunity to
work in a number of different jobs,
all within the same program.
Revenue For Wages – Product or
service allows for non-restricted
program funds for participant
wages.
Similar Advantages to a WorkCrew Model
CHALLENGES
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Capital Needed to Start – Social
Enterprises are expensive to start.
Staff Intensive Creation & management
of business WHILE employing persons
with barriers to employment.
Transitioning BEST workers dilemma The goal of TJ is the transition. When
people are ready to transition – they are
your BEST workers. Balancing social and
business mission.
Market Influence – Your program
depends heavily on demand for your
product or service.
Engaging Employers

Build/leverage community relationships; e.g. Chamber of
Commerce, Rotary, informal networks

Emphasize the training, experience and supports TJ graduates
receive—soft skills, coaching & case management, retention
supports

Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and other incentives for
hiring—WOTC offers incentives for both youth and formerly
incarcerated

Community Benefit—”Giving Back;” identify employers who
“buy in” to social mission—they are out there!
Snapshot of General TJ Program Staff

Case Management Team – Intake/Assessment,
Counseling, Referral Services

Job Development Team – Job Coach, Job Developer,
Crew Supervisor

Job/Life Skills Trainers

Retention Specialist

Education/Training Specialist
Budget Considerations for TJ Program
Planning

Participant Wages

Staff

Training and Education

Support Services

Incentives

Data Collection and Evaluation

Administrative Costs
NTJN Role & Services
The NTJN exists to influence audiences to ensure that policies
account for the hard-to-employ, that the public understands
the need to invest in these services, that programs are able
to effectively serve as many individuals as possible, and
that best practices and technical assistance are widely
shared and implemented throughout the network.
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Technical Assistance
State and Federal Advocacy
Monthly Newsletters
National Conference
For more information, contact:
[email protected]
or visit:
www.transitionaljobs.net