Cuyahoga County Reentry Project Updates

- Every resident is on a path to upward income mobility and career advancement
Strategic Priorities
  • 6.5 Remove specific barriers to employment for qualified candidates
    - Every resident is on a path to upward income mobility and career advancement
About this measure

This measure provides updates on projects being completed by the Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry.

Why is this important?

Many policies designed to assist the reentry population fail to address barriers and the stigma caused by having a criminal record. Obtaining employment, making a decent wage, and having access to meaningful job skills training are critical components needed to achieve a successful reentry from incarceration. This targeted population faces many challenging situations, and many are very limited in areas such as education, work experience, and life skills that greatly impact their employability and earnings capacity. Research indicates that having access to genuine employment opportunities and possessing useful skills is key to decreasing recidivism and reducing crime.
How are we making an impact?

The Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry works to remove the stigma and social burdens that challenge returning citizens by sustaining a reentry movement that provides a full range of comprehensive services, support, and opportunities needed for a successful reintegration. The Office of Reentry does this by serving as a funder, collaborator, convener, thought leader, and influencer within the reentry space.  The Office of Reentry ultimately seeks to organize a complex ecosystem of providers, funders, and policymakers that work to increase visibility, efficiency, services, collaborations, and opportunities.

Reporting Frequency
Quarterly
Milestone Measure

The following are 2019 updates on current projects/programs aligned with this measure:

Contracted Programs:

  • Chopping for Change (C4C) Culinary Arts Program: An innovative partnership between the Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries, and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, this culinary arts program provides quality education, work experience, and job readiness skill training in the food service industry to inmates at the Northeast Reintegration Center. The program is licensed as a trade school by the Ohio Board of Career Colleges and Schools and validated through the American Culinary Federation, with next steps seeking to obtain accredited to become an associate degree program. C4C also provides real time work experience at restaurant training sites, the Marble Room and the Virgil Brown Café.

Engagement and Community Awareness:

  • Office of Reentry Speakers Bureau: Provides Certificate for Qualification of Employment (CQE) training workshops for legal professionals and other reentry community partners.
  • Employer Matrix: The Office of Reentry has partnered with the Cuyahoga County Department of Development to create a more strategic and systematic plan to tackle employment barriers faced by returning citizens. This matrix will provide incentives and barrier removal techniques for employers.
  • 2019 Reentry Awareness Week: Coordinated events to raise awareness and educate the community on barriers facing returning citizens.
    • Cash Mob Restaurant Bus Tour: Patronized businesses within the reentry network and raised monies with $975.00 dollars pledged and $1,779.50 actual dollars spent on tour.
    • Job Resource Fair: Third Annual Breaking Down Barriers Hiring Event held at Oriana House Hough Center, 6000 Hough Ave., Cleveland and No RSVP required.

Release of new RFP:

Issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the creation of a new Social Enterprise Business whose focus will be providing employment opportunities and serving as an incubator for entrepreneurship by returning citizens.