| Cuyahoga County Reentry Project Updates- Every resident is on a path to upward income mobility and career advancement |
Strategic Priorities |
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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 programs and projects being completed by the Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry.
The Office of Reentry provides updates on a quarterly basis.
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.
Performance Target |
This page is a milestone measure, meaning updates take the form of qualitative, project-based narratives to provide additional details related to core County programs and services. Measure performance is impacted by a number of factors, including funding levels, strategic priorities, community need, and policy decisions made at the federal, state, and local level. Performance targets are not set for milestone measures, but timely reporting of updates is important.
How are we making an impact? | |
The Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry (OOR) provides financial support for innovative employment programs and services that reduce the barriers to employment for those formerly incarcerated or directly impacted by mass incarceration. Programs and services that address barriers to employment, housing and other necessary services financially supported by the Office of Reentry are currently being provided by the following organizations Towards Employment, The Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Veterans Treatment Court, Aspire Greater Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, and North Star Recovery Resource Center.
Many of the programs for the Office of Reentry are directly tied to individuals in the prison system. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) have been impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic, like many of our providers. Due to the serious health concerns of those incarcerated inside of the ODRC, the prison system stopped allowing outside visitors and partner organizations access to the prison system. Many of our programs are required to receive referrals directly from the ODRC. Our partner organizations have pivoted their operations and focus from one particular program to another, based on the need and to answer the call for the community.
The Office of Reentry is excited to see how our partners overcome the barriers placed in front of them to continue serving the Cuyahoga County residents.