• NTJN will present at the Best Practices: Ex-Offender Reentry Conference in Dayton, OH, May 11-13, 2006. The conference is sponsored by PowerNet of Dayton, a grassroots organization that helps facilitate resources essential to offender reentry. The NTJN will be  presenting “Transitional Jobs: A Critical Re-entry Strategy”on Friday May 12th. To register and access conference materials click here.
• The NTJN's presentation at the 2nd Annual National Offender Workforce Development Conference held in St. Louis on April 11-13th was a great success. Over 50 individuals attended the NTJN presentation on adapting Transitional Jobs programs to address the employment needs of individuals re-entering communities. Additionally, the TJ strategy was featured by TJ programs each day of the conference.
• SAVE THE DATE: The 2006 National Transitional Jobs Network Conference: "Strengthening Communities. Building the Workforce of the Future. Transitional Jobs Work." will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, October 12-13, 2006. More information on online registration will be provided in our next newsletter.

Since 2000, the NTJN has been collecting data on Transitional Jobs programs and preparing fact sheets describing the success of programs across the US.  Each Transitional Jobs program is strengthened when we are able to point reliably to the success of all existing programs—we build a firm case for more funding, gain policy recognition, and earn public support for the Transitional Jobs model.

Completed surveys provide the NTJN with important information about Transitional Jobs programs potentially benefiting your program and other Transitional Jobs programs across the country. Over 45,000 people in 30 states have already benefited from Transitional Jobs programs known to the NTJN.

Just Out: Early Lessons from the Ready4Work Prisoner Reentry Initiative, Lindsay Jucovy - Public/Private Ventures. Just Out examines the early implementation of P/PV's prisoner reentry demonstration, Ready4Work, and reports on emerging best practices in four key program areas. Just Out focuses on Ready4Work's 11 adult sites and highlights, Transitional Work Corporation (TWC) as an offender reentry strategy.

Participation in TANF Work Activities in 2004, Elisa Minoff - CLASP - Center for Law and Social Policy. The fiscal year 2006 federal budget requires states to meet revised federal work participation rate requirements for their Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs-including a 50 percent work participation rate for all families, and a separately calculated 90 percent participation rate for two-parent families. This brief outlines the extent to which certain activities can count toward the federal participation rates, and examines states' current participation levels in different work activities.

Transitioning Ex-offenders into Jobs and Society, Hugh Price- Brookings Institute. Price's article highlights Transitional Jobs as an effective strategy for transitioning people with criminal records back into society and the workforce. Price also argues that more funding should be put into Transitional Jobs programs for ex-offenders.

The Dawn of a New Movement, Ellis Cose -Newsweek. The article describes the difficulties that people with criminal records face in re-entry and current views and activities in reducing recidivism. The Second Chance Act (HR 1704; S 1934) is mentioned as a current policy initiative in battling re-entry for people with criminal records.

The Second Chance Act (HR 1704; S 1934) aims to reduce:

• recidivism
• increase public safety
• help communities better address the growing population of prisoners returning to communities.

The Second Chance Act specifically designates Transitional Jobs programs as an allowable use for demonstration grant money. Passage of the bill has the potential to infuse both existing and newly forming Transitional Jobs programs with new and additional funding through demonstration projects. As the congressional session comes to an end, contact your senator or representative now.

Transitional Work Corporation (TWC) is a large, urban Transitional Jobs program located in Center City Philadelphia that serves every surrounding neighborhood. Founded in 1998, TWC is the product of an innovative, collaborative effort among the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the City of Philadelphia, Public/Private Ventures and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

TWC has successfully matched thousands of individuals with hundreds of employers in the Philadelphia region.  To date, over 15,000 families have benefited from TWC’s unique approach to immediate engagement in employment through transitional work and the provision of critical work supports. TWC is committed to providing businesses with reliable entry-level employees while providing individuals with the experience, skills, and know-how necessary to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace.  To achieve these goals, TWC provides the following services to employers and job seekers:

• An orientation that builds not only skills but confidence;
• Professional development, training and career mentoring;
• Transitional jobs for job seekers to gain soft and hard skills and network with other workers and employers;
• Full, part-time, and temporary job placement services for employers;
• Job retention services that help both worker and employer, and
• Technical assistance to workforce development organizations and localities interested in starting a TJ program of their own.

Recently TWC has worked with persons displaced because of Hurricane Katrina.  In fact, TWC has two staff persons who themselves (and their families) survived Katrina and Rita and made the long journey to Philadelphia. 

TWC's most recent, celebrated success story profiles Cynthia Matthews who took full advantage of TWC’s offer and is now working in her dream profession in the horticultural field.  In fact, she was featured in the local news for her recent role at the highly respected Philadelphia Flower Show.

Contact Info:
Jim Klasen
Transitional Work Corporation
(215) 965-3000 x. 375
jklasen@transitionalwork.org

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will be awarding up to seven grants of $300,000 to innovative local, state and tribal governmental juvenile justice projects that are relevant to public policy, practice or theory and with practical application nationwide. Programs can access solicitation materials here.

Email us your Transitional Jobs program technical
assistance questions to be featured in the newsletter:
ntjn@heartlandalliance.org

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The NTJN is hosted by Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights
4411 N. Ravenswood
Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: 773.728.5960 x.6286 Fax: 773.728.4907