by Michael Karpman
A new report by NLC?s Institute for Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Institute) focuses on key lessons for designing transitional jobs programs that serve individuals with significant barriers to employment.
The lessons derive from the institute?s 2002-2004 technical assistance project, supported by the Joyce Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, to help nine cities ? Baltimore; Detroit; Jackson, Miss.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; San Antonio; Syracuse, N.Y.; Virginia Beach, Va.; Waco, Texas; and Winston-Salem, N.C. ? create transitional jobs programs. Transitional jobs are time-limited, wage-paying, publicly-subsidized jobs that provide the experience, skills and support services necessary for stable, unsubsidized work.
Benefits of Transitional Jobs
Individuals who can receive transitional jobs include at-risk youth, former offenders, homeless individuals and welfare recipients. Studies by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities show that transitional jobs programs typically place participants in unsubsidized employment at a rate that is one-third higher than less intensive programs.
The nine project cities that participated in the transitional jobs technical assistance project made impressive progress in developing various types of programs.
Baltimore
In Baltimore, Mayor Martin O?Malley worked with community partners to create a transitional jobs program to reduce recidivism among the nearly 9,000 former offenders who return to the city each year.
Building on existing programs serving youth and homeless individuals, the city and its partners created a new program that placed 100 participants in competitive, unsubsidized employment.
Detroit
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick faced the challenge of helping former offenders re-enter the work force. The city?s Workforce Development Department joined with state and county agencies and other service providers in providing ex-offenders with subsidized employment, substance abuse treatment, case management, job placement services and transportation.
?We have seen our participants walk a little taller and hold their heads high because of this project,? said Delois Caldwell, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, one of the project?s main partners. ?The respect that comes with earning a paycheck and legitimately supporting your family through meaningful work is invaluable.?
Jackson
Through the persistent efforts of former Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., the City of Jackson successfully secured federal funding for two programs serving at-risk youth and homeless individuals. Since the project ended, the city has placed more than 20 formerly homeless individuals recovering from drug or alcohol addiction into competitive employment.
The GED & Beyond pilot program provided out-of-school, unemployed young people with GED preparation, transitional employment, wrap-around social services and job readiness, referral and placement.
Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard and Allen County Community Corrections used the transitional jobs project to create a new nonprofit, called Blue Jacket Inc., to provide former offenders with a full spectrum of services, including temporary employment rehabilitating homes.
?We are pleased with the continuing success stories through our re-entry court and Blue Jacket transitional job initiatives,? said Mayor Richard. ?We have come together as a community to help reduce repeat offender crime by giving returning offenders the tools they need to succeed.?
San Antonio
The transitional jobs project helped San Antonio streamline numerous existing programs that served youth. The city?s Department of Community Initiatives led efforts to align and integrate program services, meet the needs of particular groups and tackle transportation problems that hindered access to jobs.
The city now offers transitional jobs programs at its Community Family Resource and Learning Centers, which also provide adult basic education, financial literacy classes and enrollment in Individual Development Accounts to help residents save for the future.
Syracuse
Syracuse Mayor Matthew Driscoll addressed a spike in youth violence in 2002 by engaging the business community to link more youth with private sector summer jobs.
?The integration of local resources has produced 125 positive employment experiences, either in transitioning from being a victim or perpetrator of violent crime to a more stable environment, or through their transition from non-employed to self-reliance,? said Mayor Driscoll. ?NLC?s responsive technical assistance has been invaluable throughout.?
Virginia Beach
Mayor Meyera Oberndorf led Virginia Beach to action as her city sought to provide former youth offenders with on-the-job construction training, GED classes, mentoring, job placement and life skills training.
?Every young person deserves a chance to have the best life possible,? said Mayor Oberndorf. ?It?s important to work together as a community and as a region to redirect and provide opportunities for young people who may be on the wrong path.?
Waco
The transitional jobs project helped the City of Waco pull together work force agencies, business associations and other community partners to assist groups with barriers to work. Participants were placed in city agencies, a food service company, a Head Start program, a doctor?s office and a business resource center.
Winston-Salem
With strong support from Mayor Allen Joines, the City of Winston-Salem expanded local transitional jobs programs to serve at-risk youth. The mayor hosted a breakfast for local employers, encouraging them to hire participants or donate time, expertise or resources.
Looking ahead, the city plans to focus on developing social enterprise opportunities and garnering more funding for paid work experience.
Details: To read the YEF Institute?s full report or to order a copy, visit www.nlc.org/iyef, or send your name, address, phone number and e-mail address to iyef@nlc.org.
To learn more about NLC?s family economic success initiatives, contact Heidi Goldberg at (202) 626-3069 or goldberg@nlc.org.
Lessons Learned Through The Transitional Jobs Project
? New transitional jobs initiatives are most successful when their missions connect to the goals of a local champion.
? Sustained efforts to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders yield multiple dividends.
? A strong, diversified funding strategy requires creativity, collaboration and tenacity.
? Programs that are aligned with employer needs achieve better outcomes for participants.
? Successful programs incorporate strong data collection systems and ongoing evaluation.
? Existing programs can help new programs adopt proven strategies and avoid common pitfalls.
? The most successful programs respond quickly and flexibly to emerging opportunities and challenges.