From Building Prisons to Building Bridges
Greg Gaertner, Penn State University Kristin Sayers, PA Department of Corrections Krista Griffith, PA Board of Probation & Parole Traci Jacobson, Bureau of Community Corrections Valarie Kusiak, PA DOC, SCI Mercer Jason Gines, Penn State University Vladimir Beaufils, Firm Foundation Randy Loss, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Lynn Zale, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Team PA Training Plan
Current Priorities Funding Overcrowding/Bed Space Recidivism Collaborations Public Safety
Current Situation Administration and Level of Support Changes Recent Change of Department Structures Legislators/Pending Legislation Prison Overcrowding
Our Over-Arching Goal To foster partnerships with agencies through centralized training that supports ex-offender employment and job retention within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Objectives Provide initial group instruction Use curriculum developed by National Institute of Corrections and Department of Justice Identify individuals from each training session that will extend training to additional partners
Target Training Population Key Corrections Staff Administration Employment Vocational Coordinators Educational Community Corrections Counselors Key Parole Agents Assessment Sanctioning Community Resource Agents (ASCRA) Institutional Parole Department of Labor & Industry Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Workforce Investment Board
Program Delivery Regional Training Modified Offender Employment Specialist (OES) Training Modules
Impacts on Program Delivery Staff morale Timing Logistics Funding Community Support
Positive Outcomes Partnerships Enhanced Communication Shared Resources Increased Staff Skill Sets Increased Offender Employability Skill Sets