Introduce and prepare justice-involved youth and young adults for the world of work through placement into paid work experiences, and on a path to more equitable career opportunities with their peers

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration awarded a $12 million project grant under the Reentry Employment Opportunities program (CFDA 17.270) to Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America, Inc. for the period of July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2025.

Through its subrecipients, OIC of America will deliver workforce development services to 350 justice-involved youth and young adults in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Subrecipients will partner with local employers and community organizations to provide paid work experiences, occupational skills training, and credentials in high-demand industries for at-risk youth ages 15-18. Training will focus on careers in construction, manufacturing, healthcare, professional services, green energy and hospitality. In addition to workforce preparation, the program incorporates mentoring, violence prevention and leadership development activities. Performance goals include educational and employment outcomes to promote long-term career pathways for participants upon completion.

Purpose

The purpose of this program is to introduce and prepare justice-involved youth and young adults for the world of work through placement into paid work experiences, and on a path to more equitable career opportunities with their peers. Activities performed the oica go project will employ an educational opportunity and career pathway training delivery model to provide 350 participants with high-quality educational and workforce services to help them achieve their career goals. The project will apply an evidence-based sectoral employment and training model and integrate IT with two evidence-informed frameworks: 1) the alliance for quality career pathways framework (AQCP), which provides a model for developing a career pathways program, and 2) the council of state governments justice center's integrated risk and employment strategies (IRES) approach, which develops an individual care/case plan based on assessment of PP criminogenic risk/needs and workforce readiness. An employer-driven approach, which 1) designs CPS leading to advancement within local demand industry sectors, 2) provides training (in partnership with community college) that matches CP/employer requirements, and 3) considers the interaction between criminogenic risk/need factors and job readiness of participants, will result in the dual objectives of fostering sustained employment for PPS while promoting community safety by reducing recidivism. Oica has designed a 6-month planning period in which we will oversee the implementation of program readiness systems and provide direction, training, coaching and oversight of affiliates to ensure they are ready to begin programming. The first cohort of participants will enroll in month seven. Deliverables enroll 350 eligible young adult participants (100% of the stated goal) in the reentry program. (REO) 70% of participants will show improvement in at least 1 measurable skill at exit. (WIOA) oica will track the number of PPS that receive work experiences. Oica will track the number of PP's that enter occupational skills training. 50% of unique PPS enrolled in occupational skills training, work-based learning, and/or a high school diploma or equivalency program will obtain an industry-recognized credential. (REO & WIOA) participant placements: apprenticeship, unsubsidized employment, high school, post-secondary education for PPS that select immediate employment along a career pathway rather than continued education, the median earnings for employed PPS in the 2NDQ after exit will exceed $5,750. (WIOA) 70% of PPS placed in career pathway jobs will remain employed or in education in 2ND Q after exit. (WIOA) 60% of PPS placed in career pathway jobs will remain employed or in education in 4TH Q after exit. (WIOA) < 5% arrest rate for violent crimes committed after program entry. (REO) < 10% recidivism (REO) intended beneficiary justice-involved and at-risk youth in the 15-18 age range, in communities with high poverty and high violent crime rates. Subrecipient activities affiliates will partner with local employers, the justice system, and violence prevention organizations to provide paid work-experience opportunities for youth as well as education and occupational skills training and credentials for in-demand careers in construction, manufacturing and warehousing, healthcare and social assistance, professional services, green energy (SOLAR) and hospitality. Mentoring, violence prevention, and leadership development activities are also key components of the program.