This short paper, developed under a multi-part evaluation of the Pathway Home grants, describes the implementation experiences of the first cohort of grants from June 2020 to December 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 20 grants in this cohort were awarded to service providers to test use of linked pre- and post-release employment-focused services for individuals in state correctional facilities and local jails. Pre-release services include, for example, case management and job readiness training, while post-release services include occupational training, pre-apprenticeships or apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and supportive services.

Key findings on the experiences of Cohort I grantees during the pandemic, based on data from five virtual group discussions with front-line staff and grant managers and from grantee performance reports, include the following:

• Among the grantees, 18 reported that to an extent COVID-19 affected their ability to provide services both before and after release.
• Early release policies (to reduce overcrowding) in response to COVID-19 hampered enrollment into and participation in services, as some individuals became ineligible for services or had less time in pre-release services. Grantees found it helpful to have a partner, such as staff in the facility or the local prosecutor's office, who could provide timely information on release dates.
• To address COVID-19-related restrictions, Pathway Home grantees and their correctional partners reported an expansion in the use of technology which enabled virtual outreach, intake, and enrollment, with participants being provided with tablets and able to electronically sign forms.
• Staff turnover among grantees and correctional facilities was reported to pose substantial implementation challenges, as did social distancing restrictions. Grantees reported modifying their office layouts and policies and updating the occupational training courses they offered through the program to adhere to social distancing policies.
• Grantees reported that the strong labor market in 2021 increased the jobs available for participants and employers’ interest in individual Pathway Home programs as a source of potential employees, but decreased participant interest in training and employment services (because jobs were readily available). Grantees had to develop creative approaches to engage participants, including providing monetary incentives for participating in services, and using social media to stay in contact with participants after release. Grantees were still able to enroll 43 percent of participants (741 individuals) in training and 591 completed training as of December 2021.

Overall, the brief concludes that the grantees worked through the challenges of the pandemic by adapting components of their program to be remote, through use of technology, and by innovative solutions for maintaining connections with participants post-release, including offering a hybrid of virtual and in-person services, using social media, and purchasing phones and technology to keep the program accessible.