To deliver job readiness training, occupational training, case management, legal advocacy, mental health counseling and referrals pre-release

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration awarded a $6 million Project Grant to the Little Rock Workforce Investment Board through the Reentry Employment Opportunities program. The grant will fund job readiness training, occupational training, case management, legal advocacy, mental health counseling and referrals for 200 individuals in the six months prior to release from the Pulaski County Correctional Facility. Services will include comprehensive individual development plans, in-demand occupational training, work experience, apprenticeship opportunities, and wraparound support services such as mental health counseling, legal assistance, adult education, and benefits navigation. The subrecipient, CSI Academy, will provide pre-release empowerment programs and occupational training, while Future Fit will offer post-release case management, additional training, work experience, job coaching and placement through December 2025.

Activities performed enroll 200 individuals pre-release and develop comprehensive individual development plans to address barriers to employment and connect participants to in-demand occupational training, work experience and apprenticeship opportunities. Deliverables to provide comprehensive wrap-around services: community-based mental health and substance abuse counseling, legal assistance, parenting workshops, adult education, benefits navigation, financial empowerment, industry recognized training, and employment placement in high-paying jobs. Intended beneficiary adult offenders age eighteen and older who currently reside in the pulaski county correctional facility and are within 20 and 270 days of release. Subrecipient activities pre-release individual empowerment programs (CSI academy); pre-release occupational training (future fit, servsafe, CRC); post-release case management, occupational training; work experience, job coaching and placement; follow-up