The Ready4Work demonstration program addresses the critical needs of ex-offenders through faith-based and community organizations. This program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Labor, the Department of Justice, Public/Private Ventures, and the Annie E. Casie Foundation. The initiative seeks to reduce recidivism by focusing on case management, mentoring, and job training/placement. Four essential sectors are tapped to deliver these services: business, faith, the justice sector, and community.
Ready4Work creates a partnership between businesses, faith-based and community organizations, criminal justices officials, local government, and the workforce investment system to improve outcomes for ex-prisoners and the communities in which they live. The faith-based and community organizations provide volunteer mentors to help ex-offenders become job-ready so they can be referred directly to an employer.
Ready4Work is operating in sixteen sites across the country. Each site received a three year grant that will operate until 2006. Site contacts are listed below. If you have any additional questions on Ready4Work, please contact:
The Department of Labor
Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
200 Constitution Ave., Room S-2235
Washington, DC 20210
Sites (until 2006)
BOSTON: (Juvenile Site) Straight Ahead Ministries 43 Hopkinton Road Westboro, MA 01581 (508) 353-2700
BROOKLYN: (Juvenile Site) Office of Kings County District Attorney Renaissance Plaza 350 Jay Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 250-2219
CAMDEN: (Juvenile Site) Volunteers of America Delaware Valley 235 White Horse Pike 2nd Floor Collingswood, NJ 08107 (856) 854-4660
SEATTLE: (Juvenile Site)
The Church Council of Greater Seattle
4759 15th Avenue, NE
Seattle, WA 98105-4404
(206) 525-1213 ext. 3913
CHICAGO: SAFER Foundation 571 West Jackson Street Chicago, IL 60661 (312) 922-2200
DETROIT: Detroit America Works 2990 West Grand Boulevard Suite 400 Detroit, MI 48202 (212) 599-5627
NEW YORK: Exodus Transitional Community, Inc. 161 East 104th Street 3rd Floor New York, NY 10029 (212) 722-6037
HOUSTON: Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church 3826 Wheeler Avenue Houston, TX 77004 (713) 748-5240
JACKSONVILLE: Operation New Hope 1830 North Main Street Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 425-6001 (904) 425-6002
LOS ANGELES: Adult Site Union Rescue Mission 545 South San Pedro Street Los Angeles, CA 90013 (213) 673-4839
Juvenile Site
Los Angeles TenPoint Coalition
c/o West Angeles Church of God in Christ
3045 S. Crenshaw Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90016
(323) 292-3301
MEMPHIS: City of Memphis 125 North Main Street Memphis, TN 38103 Second Chance/Ready4Work Program 444 North Main Street 2nd Floor Memphis, TN 38106 (901) 545-0343
MILWAUKEE: Word of Hope Ministries 2677 N. 40th Street Milwaukee, WI 53210 (414) 447-1967
OAKLAND: Allen Temple Housing & Economic Development Corporation 8501 International Boulevard, C101 Oakland, CA 94621 (510) 567-1490
PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia Consensus Group/Search for Common Ground
1601 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 265-4300
WASHINGTON, DC: The East of the River Clergy-Police-Community Partnership 4105 First Street, SE Washington, DC 20032 (202) 373-5767
Disability Employment and Training Services
Employment and training services to assist people with disabilities are available at One-Stop Centers and through other federal partners. The Disability Employment and Initiatives Unit of the Employment and Training Administration and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) help identify policies and provides technical assistance to address barriers to work for people with disabilities. ODEP funds a toll-free Job Accommodations Network (JAN), 1-800-526-7234. JAN is a free consulting service to increase the employability of people with disabilities by: 1) providing individualized worksite accommodations solutions, 2) providing technical assistance regarding the ADA and other disability related legislation, and 3) educating callers about self-employment options.
Native American Employment and Training Program
Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians are eligible to receive employment and training services on reservations and in their communities under the Workforce Investment Act.
Services are targeted to assist unemployed, underemployed, or economically disadvantaged individuals with the goal of expanding their occupational, academic, and literacy skills and enhancing their job prospects. Programs also are intended to support economic and social development in these communities. Contact information can be found by calling 1-877-US2-JOBS
Older Workers Employment Program
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) serves low-income individuals who are at least 55 years old and have limited employment prospects. This initiative provides older Americans with part-time community service jobs in settings such as day-care centers, hospitals, and schools in occupations ranging from literacy tutoring and conservation, to financial counseling and economic development.
Assignments can be for up to 1,300 hours per year and pay (at least) the minimum wage. Job training, classroom training, counseling, and placement in unsubsidized jobs also are offered. Participants can use their experience as a bridge to other employment. Contact information can be found by calling 1-877-US2-JOBS