Improving Reentry Employment Services at Atlanta Technical College (IRES@ATC)

Atlanta Technical College; Project Title: Reentry Education and Employment Program (ATCRE2); # Served: 100; Funding Level Requested: $897,711.00Intended Beneficiaries: ATCRE2 will serve individuals 18 or older returning to one of the 128 contiguous census tracks in the Atlanta Technical College (ATC) service area of Fulton and Clayton County, Georgia. ATC proposes the Reentry Education and Employment Program (ATCRE2) to increase the corrections systems' ability to implement and expand education and employment program opportunities towards reducing recidivism and promoting reentry success for individuals being released to underserved communities within the metro Atlanta’s Fulton and Clayton counties.  ATCRE2 program services will be delivered pre-release and continue post-release, providing a seamless transition in educational and career services. ATCRE2 promotes an evidence-based and data-informed approach that will provide significant educational opportunities to interrupt the cycle of unemployment and encourage reentry success for returning adult citizens. Given this, the ATCRE2 program seeks to enhance the academic power of technical education services offered pre-and-post-release to increase further the capacity of reentry efforts in the metro Atlanta region.

Priority Consideration under Priority 1(A): The proposed program model is based on current gaps in the City of Atlanta, So. Fulton, and Clayton Counties for access to reentry education and employment opportunities for individuals returning to underserved and prevalent poverty and high crime communities.

Corrections Partners: Metro Reentry Facility, Metro Transitional Center, and the City of Atlanta Department of Corrections. Partners: Local Workforce Boards, Chamber of Commerce, US Attorney Office, Employers, Community-based and faith-based agencies, housing agencies, substance abuse counseling agencies, etc. Subrecipient Activities: Wholistic Stress Control Institute, responsible for pre-release in-reach, recruitment, selection, case management, workforce readiness training, individual employee development plans, post-release case management, skills training referral, employment assistance, employment retention services, and performance outcomes reporting. GA Coalition for Higher Education in Prison dedicated one reentry coordinator with lived experience of incarceration to provide program participants mentorship and life coaching services pre-and post-release. GACHEP's reentry coordinator will support participants in developing life skills for success in reentry and in navigating educational and wraparound service support resources. G*STARS Data Management System, the G*STARS Program Management System to track performance and report on WIOA primary indicators.

Category for Performance Measurements

Required Measures

ATCRE2 Goals

Enrollment Rate

100%

100

Recidivism Rate

20%

20

Certification and Credential Attainment Rate

80%

80

Measurable Skill Gain (literacy attainment, high school equivalence, high school, and higher education diplomas)

80%

80

Employment

75%

75