The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCRA-R-23-0008 BackupTransition's Adult Reentry Employment & Training Program 11111))))))).J C'hangrrrg 1.rrcr Onc J th nr a Ttrnr February 1, 2023 James McQueen, Executive Director Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency 819 N.W. 2nd Avenue, 3rd Floor Miami, Florida 33136 Dear Mr. McQueen, Transition, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization located in the heart of Overtown, mission is to assist under -served residents of Miami Dade County in becoming gainfully employed. Transition provides clients with workforce readiness training, career exploration, job placements, occupational skills training and pro -active coaching. Transition targets its efforts towards assisting youthful offenders, returning residents, homeless, disabled persons, veterans and low-income individuals as well as others facing various employment barriers in the Overtown community. It is the agency's goal to remain pro -actively engaged with clients and to ensure they succeed in satisfying job performance standards as well as adopting additional life skills to remain financially stable and personally self-sufficient. In the Fall of 2019, Transition received financial support from the Southeast Overtown/Park West C.R.A. which allowed us to continue offering reentry services to the Overtown community. Much - needed job development and training, referrals and placement services were provided. That year over 200 employment placements were made! However, our greatest work and impact was yet to come! During the Spring of 2020 our world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the support of the Southeast Overtown/Park West C.R.A., we were prepared to help our community! As a Community Partner of the Department of Children and Families, Transition assisted hundreds of residents apply for food stamps and unemployment. While most non -profits closed their doors for months— ours remained opened, closing for only 10 weeks! As "front-line" workers we partnered with Community Partners and distributed boxes of food and hot meals from our office to Overtown residents. During these difficult and dark days, Transition assisted over 253 participants become employed. We could not have done this without the support of the Southeast Overtown/Park West C.R.A. Each year Transition provides services to over 4,000 residents. Overtown residents depend and rely on our services each day and we are honored to provide them! Recently, Transition has partnered with Empowerment Zone Reentry Initiative (EZRI) to expand existing employment services by engaging pre-release and post -release participants with holistic 1 case management and psychosocial support. In addition, Transition partners with Miami Dade College to provide free Digital Education classes to Overtown residents and thanks to the Southeast Overtown/Park West C.R.A. and Miami Dade College we offer Certification in Construction Trades Program. Community Partners, Three Hundred Letters, Inc. help therapeutic support and childcare services to participants who qualify, and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) help reduce prison fees incurred by participants to restore their voting rights. For over 15 years, Transition has partnered with Miami -Dade County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide Workforce Readiness Training for their Boot Camp Re-entry Program. Transition has almost 50 years of experience in positively impacting the lives of Miami - Dade residents. We kindly request the Southeast Overtown/Park West C.R.A. to provide a grant in the amount of $292,060 to support our "Adult Employment & Training Program." This grant that will assist our efforts to reduce recidivism and empower Overtown residents. Immediately below is our proposed budget supporting our request. What follows that is a description of our programs, curriculum, programmatic statistics, brochure, and pictures. We stand ready to answer any further questions. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Stephen Gilmore Executive Director 2 PROGRAM BUDGET Annual Budget Salaries Staff Executive Director $65,384 Lead Placement Specialist $33,076 Placement Specialist $27,200 Bookkeeper $20,000 Program Specialist/Front Desk $24,615 Peer Specialist $24,615 Total Staff Salaries $194,890 Benefits/Contributions Fringe $24,675 Sub -Total $24,675 Non -Salary Telephone and network $5,220 Office Supplies $6,000 Postage $750 Equipment Rental: Copier $6,525 General Liability Insurance $6,750 Paychex $3,750 Sub -Total $28,995 Programming Forklift Classes $6,000 Training (O.S.H.A.) $4,500 GED classes $5,250 Security Guard License (Class D) $4,500 Program Supplies $4,500 CDL $18,750 Total Programming $43,500 Total 292,060 Transition Changing Lives... One Job at a Time! Leaders in Assisting Previously Incarcerated People tcp IIIWD))))J TRAN$ITION Providing Services for qualified Candidates: N. Job Training and Job Placement I. Obtain Identification Documents Transition, Inc. has a history of providing job development, training, referrals, and placement services in South Florida to previously incarcerated people as well as non -offenders. We take pride in delivering comprehensive programs that positively impact our communities. While Transition has a long-term proven success with our core mission of helping previously incarcerated people fmd and maintain meaningful, gainful employment, we have expanded beyond by providing "wrap -around" services, including GED preparation, transportation assistance, food stamps, and almost everything else short of housing. It is our experience that the participants we serve, and the other under -served communities we have come to serve, including troubled/disassociated youth, homeless persons, and veterans, have distinct, additional needs that must be filled for them to be able to undertake a meaningful opportunity for employment. Our clients do not have the time or bandwidth to make multiple appointments with different agencies to obtain other support. We have found that when we refer people out for these services, the perception (and the reality) is we are not truly assisting them but, instead, sending them to a sea of red -tape, bureaucracy, and time and logistics sinks. On the other hand, when we have developed a positive rapport with our 4 clients (we have a knack for this), and then provide the range of assistance needed in a "one stop" format, we have the best opportunity to effectuate our core mission: helping them get and maintain employment. Transition will provide the following services to the residents of Overtown: Workforce Readiness and Employability Skills Workshops Workforce readiness is a necessary component in searching for employment. In today's competitive economy, it is critically important that job seekers know how to explore career options, research job opportunities and apply for jobs; know how to communicate their skills and competencies; know how to present themselves in the very best light during a job interview; know how to prepare business documents including a resume, cover letter and thank you letter; know how to obtain required documentation for work authorization; and know how to listen attentively, follow instructions, and complete work assignments to distinguish themselves with supervisors and associates. Our Placement Specialists help participants increase their likelihood of employment by engaging participants. Through discussion and practice, participants will become acquainted with these and other workforce readiness concepts such as completing the onboarding process, satisfying job performance standards, and managing personal finances. They will also learn how to prepare a resume, cover letter, and thank you letter, conduct job searches, complete online job applications and participate in a mock job interview during class. 5 Career Exploration and Job Placement Participants are assigned a Placement Specialist who works with them to explore career options, review their resumes, contact corporate employers, and schedule job interviews. The Placement Specialist then determines whether additional occupational skills training is necessary should a client wish to pursue employment opportunities in, for instance, the construction, logistics, IT, security, or health care industries. Prior to the interview, the participants will undergo a mock interview with his/her Placement Specialist to practice and tailor responses to the job he/she is pursuing. Participants are expected to meet regularly with their Placement Specialist until they secure employment. Proactive Coaching and Wrap -Around Services Our Life Coach will maintain contact with participants from the point of recruitment through job placement and beyond. Staff work with clients to determine and provide critical wrap -around services and support to successfully secure and sustain employment, career advancement, and self- sustainability. If participants encounter barriers or challenges, they have ready access to key staff for mentoring and/or life coach assistance. 6 Transition Changing Lives ... One Job at a Time! Our Process Participants' on -boarding will consist of completing digital program application and career assessment. Transition primarily uses the My Next Move Career Assessment. My Next Move is designed to help participants understand how a variety of personal attributes (i.e., data values, preferences, motivations, aptitudes, and skills) impact their potential success, satisfaction with different career options and work environments. After each participant completes their application and career assessment, they will receive instruction in an orientation session prior to meeting their assigned Placement Specialist. The orientation will provide the history of the organization, a review of our programs and services, organization policies/rules and a breakdown of the requirements for participating in the Workforce Readiness Training Program. Following orientation, each participant will be scheduled for a one-on-one meeting with their Placement Specialist. During this meeting an Initial Assessment (IA) will be completed. The Initial Assessment will offer insight into the employment barriers of each participant (i.e., lack of transportation, valid I-9 documents). In addition, Initial Assessment will shed light into other areas outside of employment that may require much -needed wrap -around services. The Placement Specialist and participant will also begin work on their Individualized Employment Plan (IEP). The IEP is jointly developed by the participant and the Placement Specialist and identifies the participant's employment goals, determines the combination of services needed for the participant to reach employment goals, and is one of the most effective ways to serve individuals with barriers to employment and to coordinate services. Short term and long employment goals including potential educational and job training opportunities serves as benchmarks on the IEP. Each participant will meet for approximately 4 weeks, twice a week for Workforce Readiness Training Class and once a week for individual meetings with their Placement Specialist. The Workforce Readiness Training Program provides an opportunity for participants to learn how to create a cover letter; thank you letter and resume. In addition, activities such as mock interviews, 7 work etiquette and everyday job skills are covered during the course. A Financial Literacy component has been added to our program. The goal of this program is to help participants to develop a stronger understanding of basic financial concepts - that way, they can handle their money better. Following the completion of the Workforce Readiness Training Program participants will begin receiving job referrals and job placement opportunities. Our staff will remain proactively engaged with participants to ensure they succeed in satisfying job performance standards as well as adopting additional life skills to remain financially stable and personally self-sufficient. Transition staff will perform 30-day, 60-day and 90-day follow-ups with participants to track their success or provide additional support. Furthermore, during the client's initial visit they met with the Empowerment Zone Reentry Initiative (EZRI) as part of our "One Umbrella Case Management" program. During this first meeting with a Social Worker, participants talk about additional wrap- around services that they made need outside of employment and job training. If a participant needs therapy or counseling sessions during the "initial assessment," EZRI will schedule follow-up appointments. SERVICES PROVIDED Job Training and Job Placement Mental Health Counseling * Case Management * Transportation Assistance Mentor * Job Coaches * Work Clothing and Tools Obtain Identification Documents * Family Counseling * Advocacy Home Visits * Occupational Classroom Training Gender Female (ages 18 — 88) 33% Male (ages 18 — 88) 62% Other (ages 18 — 88) 5% Annual Income Mean Median Age Mean $16,080 $15,480 39.8 IMPACT REPORT Median Range Racial Identity Black/African American Caucasian Bi-racial Other Ethnicity Hispanic Non -Hispanic Other 37.6 18-88 62% 14% 6% 18% 36% 61% 2% 8 BY THE NUMBERS (10/1/2021 - 12/31/ 2022) BOOT CAMP REENTRY PARTICIPANTS *PARTICIPANTS IN MIAMI DADE CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM RECEIVING WORKFORCE READINESS TRAINING ADULT REENTRY PARTICIPANTS *PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED ADULTS AND NON -OFFENDERS JUSTICE INVOLVED PARTICIPANTS *PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED ADULTS 18 AND OVER WORKFORCE READINESS PARTICIPANTS *PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE INSTRUCTION IN WORK ETIQUETTE, RESUME DEVELOPMENT, COVER LETTER, AND THANK YOU LETTER INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYMENT/REENTRY PLANS *LONG TERM AND SHORT-TERM GOALS ARE ESTABLISHED FOR EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING OBTAINED EMPLOYMENT *PARTICIPANTS GETTING HIRED 180 428 390 401 336 JOB TRAINING & EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES 185 *PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE CERTIFICATION IN OSHA, FOOD HANDLERS, SECURITY GUARD, FORKLIFT AND GED MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT *AN ASSESSMENT TO IDENTIFY NEEDED WRAP -AROUND SERVICES 220 CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES/REFERRALS 364 * FACILITATES THE ACHIEVEMENT OF CLIENT WELLNESS AND AUTONOMY THROUGH ADVOCACY, ASSESSMENT, PLANNING, COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, AND SERVICE FACILITATION COUNSELING SESSIONS * PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS HELP CLIENTS IDENTIFY GOALS AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSE EMOTIONAL TURMOIL; SEEK TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND COPING SKILLS; STRENGTHEN SELF-ESTEEM; AND PROMOTE BEHAVIOR CHANGE AND OPTIMAL MENTAL HEALTH. 207 FRUSTRATED IN YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS? PROBLEMS AT WORK TOO DIFFICULT TO HANDLE? JOIN OUR GROUP Do something great foryouraelf 7 Start the New Year right! .�.' WHERE! "'CP :ttz LITERACY E3UIl..O OOFI[-TI _ WORKSHOP IAII A BUILD A LIFE. JOIT EVENT MEDIA Happening July 6th,2022 from gam to 1pml Transition, Inc. The Fonda Department of Moto) Vehicles (DM) Will be at Transition for los and Driver Uanses services! FLHSMV IIUII)»))) 1550 NW 3rd AVe TRANSITION Building C. Miami, R. 33136 Pin the dais! July 6th. 2022 For more Info call TEL: 305-571-2001 TRANSITION'S FINANCIAL Ca llanalTm.don Academy YAWL 11500 wpm TEEM FREEANDOPEN a..on I e,wi. n uua mak .ase w.IDD CHASEO• AR..a,, INK mi'—' SAVE .TOTE DATES! FREE OF CHARGE! Aeoueu a.aa«ma..laW sm.awAn L. S0* «rr«n.ult.mein. e...a.•x.e,omn« P.nI1 .ley! *MU I. tM«edl CLASSES BEGIN JANUARY 20231 IIIIIU)))1)3 FREE OVERTOWN VOTER REGISTRATION &EDUCATION CLINIC Interested in updating your omputer skills or learning a new program? NOMA SWIM Free Computer Training Class Cinsses Benin Januar, 11, 2022 2