KERSEY — Workforce Solutions for North Central PA, which serves as the North Central Workforce Development Board for the six counties of Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean and Potter, was recently awarded a competitive grant from the Department of Labor & Industry to implement a regional, six-countywide Youth Reentry Program.
The grant was one of nine awards made to local Workforce Development Boards across the commonwealth. The program is aimed to prepare youth for employment or post-secondary education opportunities and reduce recidivism in Pennsylvania.
This $256,400 award is funded 100% with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) statewide activity funds and will recruit, re-engage and assist youth and young adults ages 18 to 24 who were formerly incarcerated or have interacted with the Pennsylvania judicial system. “This two year award, entitled Collaborating for Second Chances, will be implemented through our PA CareerLink® centers in our six counties,” stated Pam Streich, executive director for Workforce Solutions. “We are pleased that our proposal was viewed as competitive as we were able to make our rural voice be heard. Our proposal prioritizes a partnership with our criminal justice system, our PA CareerLink® offices, community organizations and educational programs. This grant will also serve to enrich communication and collaboration with the criminal justice system and enrich the ecosystem in the coordination of services and sharing of information across partners. We are currently working with our chief elected officials and our workforce partners to determine a date for the regional, round-table kickoff event. The Collaborating for Second Chances program enables Workforce Solutions to increase our current programming to assist employers with their need for workers.”
Collaborating for Second Chances provides a streamlined intake and enrollment process for reentry participants. One of the biggest challenges this target population faces is connection to resources and services. This project will allow for a point person and/or mentor to help guide the participant through such basic connections as housing, food, healthcare, education, accessing documentation — Social Security cards, birth certificates, getting a driver’s license, employment etc., as well as connection to legal, mental health and treatment services.
Participants will have access to assessment and testing resources, individual and group mentoring, education activities, work experience and on-the-job training.
Anyone interested in obtaining reentry services are encouraged to go to their nearest PA CareerLink® center or call (844) 722-2546. This toll-free number will provide access to all of North Central PA Region’s PA CareerLink® centers. Then choose the nearest office.
This initiative will serve to reinforce connections to the criminal justice system, employers and partnering organizations whose collaboration and support is necessary to complete the ecosystem and ensure the fluid transition of services.
