National Transitional Jobs Network conference

Its a Rural Thing: Considerations for Implementing TJ in a Rural Context

Vermont Works for Women

Rachel Jolly, Director of Womens Programs

Louise Mastin, Program Coordinator

www.vtworksforwomen.org

Vermont Works for Women

Building Confidence Teaching Skills Changing Lives

www.vtworksforwomen.org

Our Mission
Vermont Works for girls recognize their potential and explore, pursue and excel in work that leads to economic independence.

Women helps women and

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Vermont

Population: 625,000 77% of the state is forested 95% self-id as white; most populous county: 92% 2130 individuals incarcerated in 2011; 11,500 under DOC supervision Primary industries: dairy farming, forestry, tourism

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We operate in two counties

Chittenden County, which includes VTs largest city of Burlington: population: 157,000
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Washington County, population: 60,000

A bit of history

Brought into Trainings for the prison women in the skilled trades

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A bit of history
Mentoring program One-on-one employment support within a way house All this experience led us to

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Transitional Jobs

The Research (no rural examples; few all women examples) The Pilot: November 2008 To Date:

Served: 160 women Two counties

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Key Partners

Heartland Alliance Dept. of Corrections Dept. of Labor Vocational Rehabilitation United Way VT Womens Fund Hendrickson Foundation Economic Services - RU Employers

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Our Model

Eight weeks 82 contact hours Graduated decrease of classroom hours Scattered job sites, primarily One sheltered site (culinary-training)

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Focus on Soft Skills

Work out the basics: childcare, transportation, housing Goal setting Identifying and Addressing Barriers Resumes & Cover Letters Interview Skills Workplace Communication Giving and Receiving Feedback Budgeting Literacy Skills
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Trauma-Informed Lens: Mindfulness exercises Safe space Kinesthetic learning Self esteem is constant focus

Our Process
Word of mouth

Recruitment

Partner
agencies Self referral

Website

Post Program Support

Engagement

1-1 meetings

Participant follow up

Orientation Application and release Interview and reference check

Acceptance Referral to other services Evaluation self and program Job search and coaching Volunteering and Transitional job Job coaching , job search and job leads

Resource referral

8 weeks 80 hours (3 weeks intensive)

Networking and presenters

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Employment Training program starts

Some Brief Biographies.

Nicki: 18 years old; no job experience; one felony Kristie: 30 years old; mother of two; one felony, two misdemeanors; minimal work history Theresa: 35 years old ; five children lost custody of all; 15 months incarcerated; sporadic work history

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How were doing

60% employment rate 2-8% recidivism rate (state average for women is 32%) Exemplary participant and employer satisfaction

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Resources we found valuable

TJ / Technical Support:abuse: Trauma and substance Heartland Alliance Bessel Van Der Kolks work on trauma and trauma informed instruction including EMDR and neurofeedback Womens Bean Project Francine Shapiros work with EMDR CEO Laura Parnells work with bilateral stimulation - tapping Gender Responsiveness: Stephanie Covingtons work in gender responsiveness and womens issues

Alyssa Benedicts Rethinking Behavior Management with Female Offenders www.vtworksforwomen.org

Contact Information
For more information about any of our programs: Visit our website at: www.vtworksforwomen.org Or call us at: (802) 655-8900 Rachel Jolly, ext. 108 Louise Mastin, ext. 503

www.vtworksforwomen.org