barriers to employment danielle ralston ex-offender employment specialist eaglevision ministries...
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Barriers to Barriers to EmploymentEmployment
Danielle RalstonDanielle RalstonEx-Offender Employment SpecialistEx-Offender Employment Specialist
Eaglevision MinistriesEaglevision MinistriesCapital Area Michigan Works!Capital Area Michigan Works!
At Eaglevision Ministries, one At Eaglevision Ministries, one of our primary goals is to of our primary goals is to
assist participants in assist participants in recognizing and addressing recognizing and addressing
their personal barriers to their personal barriers to employment.employment.
Barriers that are ex-offender specific:Barriers that are ex-offender specific:
• Lack of transportation• Lack of education• Lack of family support• Lack of self esteem• Lack of time
management skills• Lack of childcare• Lack of solid work
history
• Substance abuse• Unhealthy
relationships• Soft skill deficiencies • Anger• Single parent• Unstable housing • Mental Health• Victim of domestic
violence
Strengths that ex-offenders possess:Strengths that ex-offenders possess:
• Resilient
• Resourceful
• Adaptive
• Creative
As an Employment Specialist or As an Employment Specialist or Case Manager working with ex-Case Manager working with ex-offender job seekers the key is to:offender job seekers the key is to:
1. Exercise good listening skills2. Be familiar with community resources3. Challenge your participants, but keep
expectations realistic4. Avoid “doing too much” for the participants5. FOLLOW THROUGH!
Case Study 1Case Study 1Name: TamekaAge: 31Barriers: 1. Lack of education2. Lack of solid work
history3. Lack of resume, and
lacks the ability to write a resume
4. Soft skill deficiencies
Tameka’s long term goal includes working in a business office.
Barrier #1: EducationBarrier #1: Education
• Barrier: Tameka lacks basic computer skills and office skills.
Barrier #1: EducationBarrier #1: Education
Plan to address the barrier:• Tameka attended and completed classes
at Career Quest in Keyboarding, Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and Professional Development.
• Tameka is currently enrolled at the University of Phoenix working towards an Associates Degree in Business Administration.
Success!Success!Tameka is now qualified for Administrative Tameka is now qualified for Administrative
Assistant positionsAssistant positions
Barrier #2: Lack of solid work historyBarrier #2: Lack of solid work history
Focus on SKILLS,
not necessarilyformal work experiences
Volunteer Work experiences
whileincarcerated
School/ Vocational
training
Barrier #3: ResumeBarrier #3: ResumeDo this:
Functional resume
Format:Highlights of Qualifications
Skills and ExperienceEducation
Volunteer Experience
Not this: Chronological resume
Format:Most recent job
Second most recent job, etc.
Example of Functional Resume:Example of Functional Resume:Experience
Auto Detailing• Inspect parts, equipment, and vehicles for cleanliness, damage, and compliance with standards
or regulations. • Scrub, scrape, or spray machine parts, equipment, or vehicles, using scrapers, brushes, clothes,
cleaners, disinfectants, insecticides, acid, abrasives, vacuums, and hoses. .Landscaping • Operate powered equipment such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chain-
saws, electric clippers, sod cutters, and pruning saws.• Mow and edge lawns, using power mowers and edgers. • Provide proper upkeep of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, fountains, planters, burial sites, and
other grounds features.Commercial Driving • Maneuver trucks into loading or unloading positions, following signals from loading crew and
checking that vehicle and loading equipment are properly positioned. • Maintain logs of working hours and of vehicle service and repair status, following applicable state
and federal regulations. • Move levers and controls that operate lifting devices, lift beams and swivel-hooks, hoists, and
elevating platforms, to load, unload, transport, and stack material.Food Service• Prepare a variety of foods according to customers' orders or supervisors' instructions, following
approved procedures. • Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, and/or pans using dishwashers or by hand.
Barrier # 4: Soft SkillsBarrier # 4: Soft Skills
What are soft skills?
• the cluster of personality traits, social graces, communication, language, personal habits, friendliness, and optimism that characterize relationships with others.
Question:Question:How are soft skills addressed?How are soft skills addressed?
Answer:
Role playing activities
Role playing activities:Role playing activities:Activity 1: Mock Interviews:
• Appearance• Posture• Hand shake• Practice behavioral interview
questions• Clean fingernails• No cell phone!• Don’t smoke before an
interview• Be there 15 minutes early• Know how to get to the
interview site
Activity 2: Job Retention:(Have participants act this out)
• A co -worker approaches you and asks you a favor. He needs someone to vouch for him and say that he was in the mail room working yesterday from 12:00-2:00 (when you know that he wasn’t because he took an unauthorized extended lunch). However, this co- worker is a friend of yours. He says that if you don’t vouch for him to the supervisor he might lose his job.
Tameka’s results:Tameka’s results:
• Stronger skill set
• Increased confidence
• Community support
• Improved resume and cover letter
• Improved social skills and life skills
• 3 interviews in the past month
Case Study 2Case Study 2
Name: Dellina
Age: 45
Barriers:
1. Unhealthy relationships
2. Substance Abuse/
Mental Health
3. Unstable housing
Dellina’s long term employment goal includes working full time (with benefits) in production.
Barrier 1: Unhealthy Relationships:Barrier 1: Unhealthy Relationships:
“Being in an unhealthy relationship means you are with someone who makes you feel like you can’t succeed. They don’t encourage you to improve yourself. Now I am more hesitant to form relationships so quickly, and I look for red flags.” -Dellina
Relationship Red Flags:Relationship Red Flags:
• You experience pressure to do something that you are uncomfortable with (i.e. sex, drugs, lie, steal, unethical or unprofessional)
• You feel forced to let go of your support system and your interests
• You feel unsafe• You start to lose sight of your goals• You feel like you are always at fault for something• Your partner makes you feel embarrassed in public• You feel like you are always walking on eggshells• You feel threatened
Relationships continued:Relationships continued:
Parenting:• Marriage and Family Counseling• Parenting Classes• Healthcare/ prenatal care
Resources:• Rave: http://www.ravecs.org/• The Women’s Center: http://womenscenterofgreaterlansing.org/• The Haven House: http://www.havenhouseel.org/• Hannah’s House: http://www.hannahshouselansing.org/• MIChild: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch
Domestic Violence:• Couples Workshops• DV Support Groups• Emergency Shelter
Barrier 2: Substance AbuseBarrier 2: Substance AbuseCognitive Behavioral Therapy:
CHANGE THINKING = CHANGE BEHAVIOR
Active drug use negatively affects:• Relationships• Housing• Employment• Education• Self Esteem• Health
Have a point of contact at an inpatient and outpatient facility.
Barrier 3: Unstable Housing:Barrier 3: Unstable Housing:(vicious cycle!)(vicious cycle!)
Loss ofEmployment
Homelessness
Substance Abuse
Unstable Housing cont’d:Unstable Housing cont’d:
Identify CommunityResource: St. Vincent
Catholic Charities Housing Program
Budget Rental Assistance Inspections
Dellina’s results:Dellina’s results:
• Currently lives in her own apartment and pays an appropriate amount of rent based on her income
• Consistently taking medication• Attends weekly/ daily meetings pertaining to
substance abuse, life skills, and healthy relationships/ domestic violence support
• Currently attending substance abuse treatment aftercare
• Currently WORKING full time in her preferred industry with BENEFITS
Eaglevision Monday Ex-Offender Female Eaglevision Monday Ex-Offender Female Employment Support GroupsEmployment Support Groups
When Every Monday (except Federal Holidays)
2:00-3:00 PM- Employment Support Group
3:00-4:00 PM Substance Abuse
Where Capital Area Michigan Works!
2110 S. Cedar Street
Lansing, MI 48910
Topics Covered:
•Healthy relationships•Resume and cover letter development•Practice interviews•Expungement•Retention•Substance Abuse
What are Eaglevision participants saying?What are Eaglevision participants saying?
“I became more motivated after I consistently attended the support group meetings. I learned how to write a resume and network. I have realistic goals that I am working towards”
“The staff at Eaglevision welcomed me back after my relapse with open arms. They hold me accountable for my decisions. I feel like I belong in the support group meetings, and that I have something to contribute.”
“To other woman with criminal backgrounds- go for it! Don’t let your background define you, you can accomplish more than you think you can accomplish.”
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