$59M in grants will improve employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated adults and youth

WASHINGTON — With access to good jobs and stable employment, adults and youth involved in criminal justice system are less likely to become repeat offenders which strengthens local economies and boosts public safety. However, rehabilitation becomes more difficult when a criminal record impedes the search for employment.

To overcome this dilemma, the U.S. Department of Labor is awarding $59 million to non-profit organizations to develop or expand programs to improve the employment opportunities for adults and youth involved in the criminal justice system. The funds will support programs that offer a range of services that include case management, mentoring, education and training that leads to industry-recognized credentials.

"A good job gives a person a sense of dignity and purpose, and creates a path to the middle class. Returning citizens deserve a second chance and an opportunity to find a good job," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "Expanding opportunity is not just the right thing to do; it's an economic imperative. America is at its best when everyone shares its prosperity. The grants we are announcing today can help make that possible."

The department is awarding the grants through two of its programs for those involved in the criminal justice system. The first, its youth-focused "Face Forward" program will fund fifteen grants totaling $31.5 million. Face Forward combines the most promising workforce and juvenile justice strategies to help court-involved youth attain in-demand occupational and employment skills needed to obtain good jobs. Grantees are expected to offer a range of services, including case management with family support, mentoring, training that leads to industry-recognized credentials, and work-based learning opportunities. Funded programs will also help to address the stigma of having a juvenile record by offering services to seal juvenile records and providing opportunities to handle delinquency complaints outside of the juvenile justice system.

The remaining $27.5 million is being awarded through the "Training to Work" program which assists men and women enrolled in state or local work release programs in gaining the job skills necessary for in-demand occupations as they reintegrate back into society. Training to Work incorporates the comprehensive career pathways model which align education and training services to enable workers to attain industry-recognized credentials and find jobs.

Both grant programs target communities with high poverty and high crime rates, as well as areas designated as "Promise Zones" by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Promise Zones partner with local communities and businesses to create jobs, increase economic security, expand educational opportunities, increase access to quality and affordable housing, and improve public safety.

The grants awarded today build on the department's existing efforts to improve employment opportunities for individuals returning from correctional facilities, including $10M to fund pilot projects in 20 communities to develop American Job Centers in county and local jails to prepare inmates for successful careers upon release. In April, the department announced a $12 million grant to expand the successful National Guard Youth and Job Challenge program to enroll court-involved youth in job training and work-based learning programs.

For more information about these programs, please visit http://www.doleta.gov/REO/.

Editor's Note: A list of grantees follows this release.

Face Forward Grantees

Intermediary Applicants

Community Applicants

Training to Work Grantees