Assisting Individuals With Felony Background Behrooz Jahanshahi Oklahoma Department of Career & Technology Education Skills Centers School System August 2, 2013

Oklahoma’s CareerTech System ComprehensiveSchools TechnologyCenters Business and Industry Skills Centers Full-time Programs Adult Skills Centers Juvenile Skills Centers Instructors Employment/Transition Coordinators FY 2012 Skills Centers Students served, full-time 1,055 Students served, short-term 159 Completed, full-time 545 Positive placement 88.57% Average hourly wage $

Source: Oklahoma Department of Corrections, 2012 Annual Report, Page 17

Source: Oklahoma Department of Corrections, 2012 Annual Report, Page 21

Source: Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Facts At A Glance, May 31, 2013

Defining Reentry It is important to remember that reentry is a process of identifying treatment and training programs, according to individualized needs, to provide the offender with knowledge and skills necessary to rejoin the community successfully.

Understanding Offender Culture, Values, Attitudes: Prisonization Process (adjusting to a confined, structured environment) Prisonization Process (adjusting to a confined, structured environment)  Dependency  “Inmate Attitude”  Prison Slang  Sense of entitlement  “Inmate body language” What Ex-offenders Must Take Care of: Probation & Parole Requirements Probation & Parole Requirements Court Cost and Restitution Court Cost and Restitution Child Support Child Support

Resources  ID, Birth Certificate Vital Records: Vital Records: Social Security Administration: Social Security Administration: Department of Public Safety: Department of Public Safety:  Veterans: Representatives at Workforce Oklahoma offices, and: and:  Native Americans: Representatives at Workforce Oklahoma Offices and: Offices and: Oklahoma County only: Oklahoma County only: Oklahoma Native American Resource Guide at DHS: Oklahoma Native American Resource Guide at DHS:  Medical Needs: Low cost or free dental assistance, ww.ddokfoundation.org Low cost or free dental assistance, ww.ddokfoundation.orgww.ddokfoundation.org Low cost or free medical, Low cost or free medical,

Resources (Continued)  Food:  Housing: Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency:  Clothes: Oklahoma City, Suited for Success: Oklahoma City, Suited for Success: Tulsa: Dress for Success: Tulsa: Dress for Success:  Child Support: DHS  Mental Health, Substance Abuse:

Multiple Services, Multiple Locations  Oklahoma Workforce Portal:  Oklahoma Community Action Agencies:  Oklahoma 211:  Need Help Paying Bills:  Hand Up Ministries:  Ex-offender Resources:  Community Service Council of Tulsa:  Catholic Charities: Oklahoma City: Oklahoma City: Tulsa: Tulsa:

Networking  Association of Reentry Professionals:  Partnership for Successful Reentry:  REACH, hosted by Upward Transition:  Let’s Talk: Locates Community Resources  Community Services Council of Tulsa (Quarterly PRI Meeting)

 Being better prepared and organized  Importance of completing applications  First impressions and body language  Following up after the interview Preparing for Employment

You Must be Prepared and Organized Have copies of all documents: Resume Resume Cover Letter Cover Letter References References Portfolio Portfolio Licensures Licensures Completed Sample Application Completed Sample Application

Online applications  Require creation of a user name and password  Sufficient time is required to complete it accurately  Some online applications are timed and will time out if left idle too long  Facebook and Twitter posts warning: Be careful what you post

A Few Tough Interview Questions  Tell me about yourself?  Where do you see yourself in 5 years?  We have many applicants, why hire you?  Why do you want to work for us?  Why did you leave your last job?

At the End of the Interview The employer will ask you: “Do you have any questions?” MUST have at least 1-2 questions ready to ask!

Asking Employer Questions  What is a typical day like?  May I take a tour of the facility?  Is there a possibility for overtime? NEVER bring up money…. Pay, holidays, vacations, etc. until those subjects are raised by the employer

Why Did You Leave Your Last Job? Was there a….  Merger, bought out, sold or downsized?  New management, new staff?  Owner retired, sold assets, closed business?  Family business, reorganized

Oklahoma Department of Corrections: Facts At A Glance Oklahoma Department of Corrections: Annual Reports Oklahoma Department of Libraries: Literacy Fact Sheet: Correctional Education Office of Justice Programs: Bureau of Justice Statistics The national Reentry Resource Center: A Project of the Council of State Governments Major State and National Data Resources

Oklahoma Department of Corrections: Reentry Resource Guide Oklahoma Workforce Portal: Including E-lessons, okjobmatch.com, Grow Oklahoma: okcareerplanner.com, and much more. Indeed Job Search Engine Career Builder Monster Craig’s List Employment and Other Services Sites