The Writing on the wall

Employment decreases recidivism by an average 40%

“Ex-offenders with jobs commit fewer crimes than those without jobs, and those with higher earnings commit fewer crimes than those with lower earnings.”

- Maria Buck, Fall 2000

Education: Recidivism rates reduce by 54% when

comparing someone with no diploma/GED to a Bachelors Degree. See chart

The Writing on the wall

What is Blue Jacket?

“Mission is to provide the tools and opportunities to adult ex-offenders to be productive members of society.”

501c3 nonprofit agency spun out of County Government (ReEntry Court)

Core services in workforce development

©2008 Blue Jacket, Inc.

What is Blue Jacket? It was created to: Be entrepreneurial in fund raising

Social Enterprise

Host Transitional Jobs Fill a gap in workforce development Reduce Crime

©2008 Blue Jacket, Inc.

What is Blue Jacket? It was created to: Provide a positive, social network Confront apathy & hopelessness Increase education Provide conduit for healthier lives

©2008 Blue Jacket, Inc.

Job-Readiness Training

Matching and Placement

Social Enterprise

Transitional Jobs

Who Blue Jacket Modeled

Transitional jobs programs place participants in short term, publicly subsidized jobs that combine real work, skill development, and support services to help participants overcome barriers to employment. – Center for Law and Social Policy

•Lower Skilled

•Publicly Subsidized Jobs

•TANF & Welfare Recipients

•Temporary Personnel Agency

What are Transitional Jobs?

A social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to deliver profit to shareholders and owners. – Social Enterprise Coalition

Nationwide MovementSocial Enterprises Provide:

-Program autonomy / self-sufficiency

-Transitional or permanent employment

-Supervision and oversight from qualified staff for very low skilled

-Job Creation

What is a Social Enterprise?

What is Blue Jacket?

Clients Served: 2006: 84 2007: 196 2008: 455 2009: 350

PRELIMINARY Recidivism

(re-arrest or re-incarceration through technical violation within 1 year)2006: 36.1% 2007: 21.4% 2008 18.1%

©2008 Blue Jacket, Inc.

What is Blue Jacket?

10 employees 16 board members

©2008 Blue Jacket, Inc.

History (what we’ve learned) Avoid Mission Drift Don’t grow too quickly Provide Job Retention services Get clients connected – networked with

positive people

©2008 Blue Jacket, Inc.

What We Do Well

The Career Academy – 60 hours30-hour Job Search Training30-hour Career Development/Transition

©2008 Blue Jacket, Inc.

Income: Past 5 Years

2006 2007 2008 2009YTD 2010

Referrals (Mainly ACCC) 84 - - 425 329

Walk-ins - - - 249 215Graduates of the Career Academy 84 196 455 350 260Vocational Training Recipients - 35 12 - 30

Job Starts 142 136

Recidivism 36% 21% 18% 24% -

©2008 Blue Jacket, Inc.

What We Do Well

Core Philosophies carried out:Trust takes time and effortA second chance must be earned, not given

without any expectationsBe AccountableGive back – make your wrongs right againSoft Skills are everythingSelf-selection and buy-inDynamic and engaging – every skill level

©2008 Blue Jacket, Inc.

What We Do Well

Model Provide Tools and Opportunities Kinesthetic – Practicing

InterviewingNetworkPrepared with pitchResume writing, applicationsLook the partYou do the work!

©2008 Blue Jacket, Inc.

Goals for 6 week training

TO INCREASE:

1. Rapid attachment to employment

2. Job Retention

3. Pride in client – Credibility in Community

4. Support Network

©2008 Blue Jacket, Inc.

Blue Jacket Goals:

Be a model for other countiesReplicable – or franchise

Launch Micro social enterprises Lower recidivism to 12% in

graduates Serve 1,200 per year around

Allen County.

Ways to get people involved Donate professional apparel Become a life coach Speak about your career or vocation Mock Interview Contribute into the scholarship bank Donate items to be auctioned