Facts and Myths: Health Care Employment Opportunities for People with Criminal Records

Hosted by the National Reentry Resource Center with funding support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance

Health care is one of the fastest-growing employment sectors in the country, with the demand for qualified workers greatly exceeding supply in many areas. But people who have criminal records are often unable to enter or advance within this relatively high-paying sector due to a complex web of legal barriers that make jobs and licenses difficult or impossible to obtain.

This webinar separates the myths from the facts about these barriers in order to develop a better understanding of the true scope and impact of employment-related collateral consequences in the health care sector.

During this webinar, presenters

• Provide an overview of the state and federal laws and policies that limit health care employment opportunities for people with criminal records;
• Discuss what health care employers are doing to expand opportunities for workers with criminal records and examine the impact those efforts have had on their workforce; and
• Present models for cooperation between reentry service providers and health care employers that are aimed at placing qualified workers with criminal records in stable jobs in the sector.

Presenters:

• Reginald Allen, Talent Acquisition Consultant, Mission-Based Programs, AMITA Health System
• Josh Gaines, Senior Policy Analyst, The Council of State Governments Justice Center
• Sofi Martinez, Social Science Analyst, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Sodiqa R. Williams, Esq., General Counsel and Vice President, External Affairs, Safer Foundation