3.11 amy rynell
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NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS CONFERENCE
JULY 14, 2011
Lessons Learned: Transitional Employment for Families,
Singles, and Youth
www.transitionaljobs.net
The National Transitional Jobs Network
The NTJN exists to ensure that policies account for the hard-to-employ, that programs are able to effectively serve as many individuals as possible, and that best practices and technical assistance are widely shared and implemented throughout
the network. Technical Assistance State and Federal AdvocacyMonthly Newsletters – sign up at www.transitionaljobs.netNational Conference
Button From a Previous Conference
Employment
+Housing
ENDS HOMELESSNESS
Presentation Overview
What are Transitional Jobs?
Lessons Learned & Promising Practices
Transitional Jobs Field Advancement
Transitional Jobs
Transitional Jobs (TJ) is a workforce strategy designed to overcome employment obstacles by using
time-limited, wage-paying jobs that combine real work, skill development,
and supportive services, to transition participants successfully
into the labor market.
Lessons LearnedTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional Jobs Field Advancement
Transitional Jobs Lessons LearnedTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional Jobs Field Advancement
The premise of Transitional Jobs programs is that everyone can work.
TJ is a stepping stone out of poverty for populations with barriers to employment.
Transitional Jobs programs offer experiential workplace learning so participants can:
gain on-the-job success build work history increase stability at a job increase soft and hard job skills
Theory of Change…
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1. Address barriers to work
2. Stabilize participants through income
3. Increase soft skills and some hard skills
4. Transition to unsubsidized employment when ready
“Work organizes life” – William Julius Wilson
Goals…
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Orientation & Assessment
Job Readiness/Life Skills Classes
Case Management Support
Transitional Job - Real Work Experience
Unsubsidized Job Placement & Retention
Linkages to Education and Training
Unpacking the Model…
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Subsidized jobs in a non-profit, for profit, and/or government setting
Time-limited. The TJ typically lasts 3-9 months depending upon the population & participant needs
Wage-paid
Unpacking the Transitional Job…
Transitional Jobs Lessons LearnedTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional Jobs Field Advancement
TJ programs have a strong employment case management structure and wrap-around support with linkages to the following:
Transportation Child Care Clothing
Housing Substance Abuse Mental Health
Probation/Parole Requirements
Unpacking Supportive Services…
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Scattered Site – Participants work in for-profit, non-profit or government sites with 1-2 workers per site. (Examples: Heartland Human Care Services, TWC, GA Goodworks and WA Community Jobs)
Work Crew – Crews of 5-7 people work on a project often within maintenance, janitorial, parks, and community renewal projects. (Examples: CEO, Roca, Doe Fund)
Social Enterprise – Participants work as an employee of the product or service revenue generating arm of an organization. (Examples: Sweet Beginnings, Circle Catering, Goodwill)
Program Structures…
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Participant’s interests in work matter as motivation Evaluate aptitudes Identify employer perceived barriers Address realistic opportunities in local market Attempt to match interest, aptitudes and labor
market with the TJ placement Develop a work focused Plan with participant with
short term goals, defined responsibilities and all necessary to achieve outcome
From theory to practice…
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Structure and intensify on-site mentoring and coaching activities
Gradually increase responsibilities and stress Provide daily structured feedback on performance Increase time spent in TJ for those whose chances
of success in the competitive labor market are especially limited.
Lesson Learned: The Transitional Jobs experience must be a developmental process
Transitional Jobs Lessons LearnedTransitional JobsTransitional Jobs Field AdvancementLessons Learned
OngoingOngoing, consistentconsistent and structured structured retention services are necessary to help support transitions to employment and success, including: Conduct at least 6 months of follow-up; 3 contacts per
month Provide cash and non-cash incentives for retention Offer reemployment services and reentry into TJ if
needed
Lesson Learned: Intensive retention services are critical to support participant success
Transitional Jobs Lessons LearnedTransitional JobsTransitional Jobs Field AdvancementLessons Learned
TJ programs are most effective when targeted to people with substantial barriers to employment as opposed to individuals with better prospects of finding work on their own or with less intensive help, such as:Long term welfare recipientsPublic housing recipientsNo work experienceRecently released from prisonUp-front screenings should identify who can most benefit.
Lessons Learned: Transitional Jobs are most successful when targeted to the most In need
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TJ participants face a number of barriers to employment and service needs.
In order to supportsuccessful transitions to employment, supportive service and referral relationships must beestablished and nurtured.
Lessons Learned: Supportive service and referral relationships are critical for participant success but take time to develop
Transitional Jobs Lessons LearnedTransitional JobsTransitional Jobs Field AdvancementLessons Learned
Promising Practice: Integration of contextualized adult basic education and literacy with Transitional Jobs Literacy and numeracy are significant
barriers to employment and advancement for TJ populations
Contextualized ABE, which employs materials, situations and problems drawn directly from the workplace has potential to work especially well in conjunction with TJ
Transitional Jobs Lessons LearnedTransitional JobsTransitional Jobs Field Advancement
DOL awarded 7 grants to organizations from across the country to test effectiveness of the TJ strategy with enhancements like:Longer TJ programs Step-down subsidy periods with for-profit employersRetention and follow-up enhancements Linkages with occupational skills training
DOL Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration: Testing program enhancements & promising practices
Transitional Jobs Lessons LearnedTransitional JobsTransitional Jobs Field Advancement
Develop peer relationships between service providers providing employment services to individuals experiencing homelessness
Develop practitioner-informed promising practices on providing employment services to the population
Identify areas of further study needed
Identify and promote policy and systems changes needed
Working to End Homelessness: National Transitional Jobs Network Community of Practice