CALIFORNIA, STATE OF - WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD

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incarcerated individuals while also matching the skill set of the candidate to job openings, The ORPU has experience in working with this population and this grant will provide the ability to give greater focus to a segment of our community that has greater barriers to overcome and require support to reduce recidivism. The Business Service team and CBO partners already have a list of known businesses who are able to hire this population. The Business Services team works locally and regionally to place people. They use an interactive employment tool that simplifies the process of filling vacant positions using job listings, social media, mini- recruitment fairs to ensure fast, quality matches between employers and job seekers. They will expand their efforts to identify additional employers who will hire or offer on -site training opportunities for the former incarcerated. The ORPU Business Service team already meets on a regular basis. Justice involved friendly businesses will be added as a recurring agenda item to discuss and share employer names and job openings with the team working on this initiative. 7. Describe anticipated changes to existing MOU's with AJCC's and or new MOU's with other service providers including but not limited to addressing any challenges associated with local ordinances or policies relevant to executing new MOU's Working with formerly incarcerated individuals is not completely new to the ORPU. The opportunity to be co - located with probation and parole so as to meet the client on -site will greatly enhance our ability to better serve the individual. A Partner Agreement has already been developed with Parole and we are finalizing one with Probation and anticipate that being signed shortly. We will develop MOU's or agreements with area CBO's but do not anticipate problems nor do we foresee challenges associated with local ordinances or policies that may be in place. 8. Describe staff and training needs of RPU's, Local Boards, and partners to adequately serve this population In order to accommodate the demands of serving this population, extensive staff and training opportunities are necessary. The local AJCCs will require staff directly dedicated to serving this population, both in case management and business services. This ensures quick enrollment in order to begin the process to enter into career advising, training, OJT, or direct employment. Beyond staff needs, training is extremely important. In order to serve this population effectively, the OCRPU staff, Local Boards, and partners must become well versed in understanding. best practices in working with the justice -involved. The Workforce -Corrections partnership will provide instruction and guidance on how to work with this population. They will provide subject matter expertise to Local Boards and partners to assist in decision -making. They will provide information through trainings and meetings. For example, they will provide details on the hardest -to -serve within this population and provide advice on how resources could potentially be most effective. Furthermore, all involved must become knowledgeable of the resources available to both job seekers and employers that encourage job placement. Specifically, OCRPU staff require training from the Employment Development Department (EDD) and additional partners to receive an overview of the various available resources. This includes, but is not limited to, AB 1008 Fair Chance Hiring, the Federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit, California New Employment Tax Credit, and Federal Fidelity Bonding through the EDD state bonding services. AJCC staff will also work with Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and other organizations in the OC Region that provide job placement services for formerly incarcerated people and catalog employers that are willing to employ the justice -involved population. With this information, AJCC staff can work in providing workshops on tramings for potential employers to encourage and support them in hiring the justice -involved population. 9. Describe the provision of an education and training assessment for each individual of the supervised population who will participate in the project Comprehensive and specialized assessments of skill levels and service needs of supervised population will include diagnostic testing, use of assessment tools; in-depth interviewing and evaluation to identify employment barriers and appropriate employment goals. Assessment will entail an examination of the participant's basic skills, occupational skills, prior work experience, employability interests, aptitudes, supportive service needs, level of commitment to gaining and retaining employment and/or reaching and maintaining economic self-sufficiency as well as any restrictions or special requirements as part of their parole or probation Page 15 Prison to Employment Initiative Direct and Supportive Services Grant Orange Regional Planning Unit