Bridging Workforce Development and Corrections Cultures: Early Lessons from Linking to Employment Activities Pre-Release (LEAP) Issue Brief

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Release Date: November 01, 2016

Bridging Workforce Development and Corrections Cultures: Early Lessons from Linking to Employment Activities Pre-Release (LEAP) Issue Brief

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About the Brief

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The brief draws on data from visits to all 20 Linking to Employment Activities Pre-Release (LEAP) sites and focuses on the strategies the grantees used during the early planning and implementation period to build common ground between jail and workforce staff in promoting successful reentry for participants.

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Key Takeaways

  • Bridging the different organizational cultures of workforce development and correctional systems required ongoing communication and support between key leaders and staff members from both systems.
  • Although developing a jail-based American Job Center (AJC) requires adjustment by both workforce development and jail partners, the level of accommodation and acculturation was generally higher for workforce staff who viewed themselves as “guests” who needed to conform to jail guidelines and rules.
  • Formal staff trainings and co-location of workforce staff at the jail during the planning phase helped to strengthen the jail-based AJCs and acclimate workforce staff into jail culture and norms.

Citation

Lewis-Charp, H. (2016). Social Policy Research Associates. Bridging Workforce Development and Corrections Cultures: Issue Brief—Early Lessons from LEAP. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.

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The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy and CEO’s research development process.