The Integrated Reentry and Employment Strategies Pilot Project
Four Questions Communities Should Consider When Implementing a Collaborative Approach
This document highlights information gleaned from the Integrated Reentry and Employment Strategies (IRES) Pilot Project underway in Milwaukee County, WI, and Palm Beach County, FL, which focuses on operationalizing a level of cross-systems coordination among corrections, reentry, and workforce development agencies on a scale rarely seen in the field. The four questions featured in the document were derived from the first year of the IRES Pilot Project and can be used to facilitate conversations with key stakeholders about a community’s ability to integrate the efforts of criminal justice and workforce development systems. The questions are also designed to help communities determine what reentry and employment services are available to meet the needs of people returning to communities after incarceration.
s one of the first points of contact in the criminal justice system, sheriff’s offices and their correctional facilities are key players in addressing the immediate needs of families impacted by incarceration and promoting family connections. For jails to meet the needs of families in the community, coordinating across county lines and learning from peers are essential. However, jail systems are often siloed, and collaboration between jails in different counties is rare. In Minnesota, the state department of health stepped in to address this gap.
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