Offender Reentry Workforce Initiatives Workforce Programs Initiatives and

Offender Reentry Workforce Initiatives Workforce Programs, Initiatives and Partnerships Georgia Maxwell Deputy Secretary Department of Workforce Development Bruce Palzkill July 13, 2016 Madison, WI Deputy Division Administrator Division of Employment and Training Department of Workforce Development

DWD Offender Reentry Programs and Initiatives Wisconsin Fast Forward - Blueprint for Prosperity grants Milwaukee Area Technical College – Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technical education certificate for pre-released and recently released offenders Gateway Technical College – CNC Mobile lab at Racine Correctional

DWD Offender Reentry Programs and Initiatives Governor’s Task Force on Minority Unemployment Task Force within the Governor’s Council on Workforce Investment (CWI) Advisory committee on reentry programs and policies, especially in the Milwaukee area Co-chairs, Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and Senator Lena Taylor, also co-chair the Integrated Reentry and Employment Strategies (IRES) project

DWD Offender Reentry DWD Programs and Initiatives DWD Reentry Employment Initiatives and Connections Member of the Council on Offender Reentry IRES project participants Reentry programs and policy are part of DWD’s Talent Strategy initiative Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Department of Corrections (DOC) Programs and policies for adult and potentially youth populations

DWD Offender Reentry Programs and Initiatives DWD/DOC Collaboration Department of Workforce Development(DWD) DWD/DOC Data Sharing Agreement and MOU Offender Reentry Programs and Initiatives DOC IT Security adjusted to allow inmate access to career exploration and assessment tools and registration on Job. Center. Of. Wisconsin. com (JCW) DOC staff trained to administer assessment and career building tools Will track recidivism and employment for those who access these tools

DWD Offender Reentry Programs and Initiatives DOC/DWD Collaboration cont. Department of Workforce Development(DWD) DOC Staff will administer skills assessments and Offender Reentry Programs and Initiatives National Career Readiness Certificate credentials Indicate to employers that the Job Seeker has the math, reading and critical thinking skills needed for the job Currently over 1, 400 Jobs Postings on JCW require or prefer an NCRC credential Inmates are connected to Job Center contacts upon release for further assistance Access to local Labor Market Information by skill sets

DWD Offender Reentry Programs and Initiatives DWD Job Service Outreach Department of Workforce Development(DWD) Regional Career Counselors and Employment and Offender Reentry Programs and Initiatives Training Specialists provide workshop trainings within some facilities and at local Job Centers Workshops include: Fidelity Bonding and Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Strategies for job searching after incarceration Basic resume, cover letter and interviewing tips Accessing local Job Centers and using JCW effectively Rights and obligations under the law for employers and job seekers after incarceration

DWD Offender Reentry Programs and Initiatives DWD Office of Veteran Services (OVS) Outreach DWD/DOC MOU to allow OVS Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Representatives (DVOPs) into facilities Disabled American Veterans assisting with coordination Working with incarcerated Veterans who will be released within 60 days Begin case management and relationship-building prior to release

DWD Offender Reentry Programs and Initiatives Apprenticeship Programs within DOC Department of Workforce Development(DWD) Offender Reentry Programs and Initiatives Inmates complete On-the-Job Training and related instruction in facility Receive completion certification and documentation Currently have 70 inmates as Carpenter, Tool & Die Maker, Restaurant Cook, Baker, Horticulturist and Custodial Worker apprentices

Federal Incentive Programs Administered by DWD Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Department of Workforce Development(DWD) Federal Tax Programs and Offender Reentry Credit Program. Initiatives Employer receives tax credit when they hire individuals with barriers to employment (as defined in federal statute) Hiring formerly incarcerated individuals with a felony is allowable DWD processes WOTC requests and validates that the employee is within an eligible group DWD provides certification to the employer, enabling them to file for the tax credit

Federal Incentive Programs Administered by DWD Fidelity Bonding Department of Workforce Development(DWD) Offender Reentry Programs the employer in case of Provided to protect and Initiatives money or property loss due to employee dishonesty Bond provided at no cost to employer or job seeker through US Department of Labor (DOL) funding Serves as incentive to hire the formerly incarcerated

Local Programs Monitored by DWD Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) Formerly incarcerated are eligible for services under Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) WDBs provide strategy for services to formerly incarcerated in their WIOA Local Plan submitted to DWD for approval Programs monitored by DWD and US DOL

Local Programs WDB Initiatives Programs and Grants Department of Workforce Development(DWD) Offender Reentryto Work – and Initiatives Windows Programs partnership between Boards, Counties and DOC US DOL Linking to Employment Activities Prerelease (LEAP); Specialized American Job Center grant awarded to South Central WDB and Employ Milwaukee US DOL LEAP Grant awarded to South Central WDB and Dane County for the Dane County Jail Project

Questions? Georgia Maxwell Deputy Secretary Department of Workforce Development 608 -267 -3200 Bruce Palzkill Deputy Division Administrator Division of Employment and Training Department of Workforce Development 608 -266 -3623 http: //www. dwd. wisconsin. gov/