WAYNE COUNTY MPRI

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WAYNE COUNTY MPRI

• READY4WORK
• EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVES

(1) CONSTRUCTION (2) LIGHT MANUFACTURING/INDUSTR
IAL
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Brightmoor Neighborhood in Detroit CONSTRUCTON

• Ready4Work The Ready4Work approach is comprised
  of three main elements job training and
  placement, mentoring and case management, each of
  which is essential but none of which is
  sufficient alone. While there is little argument
  among criminologists and social scientists that
  employment may be the most essential aspect of
  successful former prisoner re-integrationi,
  sustainable employment cannot happen in a vacuum.
  Ready4Work requires significant community
  support, in the form of advisory groups, which
  are already in place in Michigan under the MPRI
  local Steering Teams, and also need guidance as
  the program is implemented and monitored.
• Contract Partners MotorCity Blightbusters, Inc
  NW Detroit Neighborhood Development Second
  Ebenezer Church MPRI sub contractors for support
  services
• Partnerships MSHDA MDOC-OOR Brightmoor
  Alliance City of Detroit Police Department
• SITE PLANNING BEGAN SUMMER 2006
• Developer, General Contractors (MPRI participant
  employers) identified/confirmed FEBRUARY 2007
• Funding commitment finalized July 2007
• Job Interviews for NW Detroit parolees with
  Construction experience October 2007
• Construction slated to begin Late Fall 2007

i A 1995 meta-analysis of 400 studies found
that employment was the single most effective
factor in reducing recidivism. Lipsey, Mark W.
What Works Reducing Reoffending. West Sussex,
U.K. Wiley, 1995
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MPRI Wayne County Ready4Work Construction MDOC
500,000 MSHDA 500,000 Comp Plan 200,000
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MPRI Wayne County Transitional Jobs Project
Light Industrial/Automotive

• Transitional Jobs Transitional Jobs is a
  workforce strategy that combines wage-paid real
  work, supportive services, skill development and
  case management to rapidly and successfully
  transition people into the labor market.
  Transitional Jobs programs include orientation
  and assessment, life skills classes, subsidized
  Transitional Job work slots which pay
  participants wages equal to or above the federal
  or state minimum wage (whichever is higher),
  employment-focused case management to support
  participants and to resolve barriers to
  longer-term employment, and unsubsidized job
  development and placement.
• Contract Partners Goodwill Industries, JVS
• Partnerships Joyce Foundation, MDOC-OOR Parole
  Board, MDRC, Urban Institute, United Way for
  Southeastern Michigan

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MPRI Wayne Co. Transitional Jobs Program
A research-based program designed to inform
public policy about effective methods for
preparing formerly incarcerated men for stable
employment and reducing their likelihood of
rearrest and reincarceration
TRANSPORTED DIRECTLY TO TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT /
JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE
Parole Orientation with Parole Agent 24hrs BEFORE
day of parole
PAROLE FROM CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
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MPRI Wayne County Ready4Work General
Assembly/Light Industrial

• Planning/Program Development began in Spring 2006
• Cross-system Planning took place for six months
  (July 2006 February 2007)
• Program operational February 2007

• IMPLEMENTATION OUTCOMES
• Unsubsidized Employment Placement Participants
  have secured employment in the following areas
  sanitation landscaping telemarketing pipe
  fitting
• Since March 2007 65 men placed in transitional
  jobs working 25-35 hours per week at minimum wage
  (transitional jobs last 90 days)
• Since March 2007 No participant has returned to
  prison
• Employee Incentives Bi-Weekly luncheons with
  motivational guest speakers and mentor matching
  opportunities gift cards for completion of 24
  hours of soft skill training
• Employer Incentives Funding support to pay
  stipends for attendance at soft skills training
  funding support for case management,
  transportation, other support services funding
  support to subsidize wages.
• WAYNE COUNTY ISSUED A 1.8 MILLION RFP FOR
  TRANSITIONAL JOBS PROGRAMS ON AUGUST 20, 2007 TO
  IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES FOR FORMER PRISONERS
• to view it visit www.uwsem.org/mpri

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Please contact
• Tamela R. Aikens
• Community Coordinator
• Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative
• Wayne County and Monroe County
• 313-456-1016
• Aikentr_at_michigan.gov