Getting Skills on the Inside, to Succeed on the Outside
Bringing enterprise class solutions to bridge over barriers to employment.
The Incarceration Story at a Glance:
At any given time, over 2.3 million are incarcerated (convicted) in State and Federal Prisions
Over 10.5 million are cycled through jail (awaiting trial or convicted) with median retention of 24-weeks
1 in 10 are between 18 and 24 years
2/3 of young incarcerated are black and/or hispanic
93% are male
1 in 3 were first arrested before 16
2 in 3 were arrested before 19yrs (76% if Black, 59% if White)
With this program those in judicial supervision can get the skills they need inside to succeed outside. Graduates are released holding an invitation to an interview in their new neighborhood.
What we do Know
Education while incarcerated increases employment on release.
Employment greatly reduces recidivism.
Computer-based education works “Inmates exposed to computer-assisted instruction learned substantially more… in the same amount of instructional time.” rand.org
Workbay for Reentry will increase income for returning citizens and their families by providing free access to industry-determined skills training and credentialing, for thousands of individuals. Over 11 Million Americans experience prison or jail incarceration each year and then struggle to return to their home economy. Returning citizens are handicapped by a barrage of restrictions limiting their opportunities. Recidivism is often the result.
Many local and regional programs work to provide better access to employment. Many great corporations, Fortune 100 to Main Street, pledge their support to reduce barriers to recruitment for those with felony backgrounds. UntappedTalent.org connects an effective network from incarceration to employment through a technology platform that connects learners gaining skills inside to employers with opportunity back home.
The UntappedTalent.org platform uses the same recruitment, training, assessment and on-boarding tools as have been deployed for millions of workers for over 30 Fortune 500 companies.
Jobs without People
Currently, there are over 11 Million open job postings and only 5.6 million people actively seeking employment in the US. We have one of the lowest rates of labor market participation of all OECD countries and the workforce continues to shrink. With our program, employers who are desperately seeking workers have access to untapped pipelines for credentialed candidates. Amongst these employers, there are numerous opportunities for individuals without significant post-secondary experience to earn a family-supporting standard of living.
Workbay for Reentry uses enterprise class systems to effectively and efficiently engage a broad united coalition of employers, community resources, judicial supervision, incarcerated and returning individuals and their families, together with foundations, community influencers, government agencies and leaders in reentry. Using technology, we implement candidate screening and hiring standards that do not see gender, class, ethnicity, race or history. We provide every support available to succeed in an interview, when qualified objectively.
The Solution
Employers have worked with Workbay to define the pre-requisites for success in a good job with their company. Workbay provides skills training on tablets and computers available in correctional classrooms and for those on release, in community libraries, online and mobile apps. Those incarcerated can transfer their skills-attainment records and resume of employability to apply to job opportunities and be ready for employment on-release.
The program content covers basic workplace skills and workplace safety, as well as specialized streams in Advanced Manufacturing,
Cybersecurity, Retail, Foundations in Direct Care, and more. UntappedTalent scales support to local community resources and assists employers with a dashboard showing potential skilled and assessed candidates ready to participate in their interview process.
