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Thursday, July 28, 2011, 10 am Pacific, 11 am Mountain, Noon Central, 1 pm EST, 6 pm Zurich, 7 pm Istanbul
"65 MILLION NEED NOT APPLY”
One in four adults has a criminal record. With more than 700,000 being released from incarceration each year, higher recidivism rates, and restrictions on hiring and housing...Can you really help? Do you need more tools? How can you be part of the solution?
Provide your clients with the information, tools, and strategies to help them achieve personal goals and performance outcomes. Join us on July 28, 2011, 10 am Pacific, in a tele-interview featuring Terry Weber, Manager of Workforce Development, Pioneers Human Services, and Sumyyah Bilal, Executive Director, EUREKA The Career Information System.
*Source: Rodriguez, M.N., Emsellem, M. 65 Million “Need Not Apply.”
The National Employment Law Project. March, 2011. Download full article HERE.
Proliferation - Paul Rucker - US Prison Growth 1778 - Present
Terry Weber is Manager of Workforce Development, Pioneers Human Service, Washington State. Most recently, he was Program Coordinator for Washington’s Employment Security Department Offender Employment Services (OES). In addition, he was the Supervisor over all programs WIA, UI and TANF at WorkSource Mason County. He coordinated OES program’s activities statewide, provided technical assistance and managed state contracts that provided direct services to persons with convictions. His additional duties in the One-stop office was to re-organize programs’ efforts due to the growing numbers of job seekers needing services and due to reduced funding, staffing and resources to maximize efforts and improve outcomes. Terry has worked on offender and reentry issues for over 38 years to raise community awareness and build reentry bridges as well as provide educational opportunities for people with convictions to become positive and productive citizens, family and community member. http://www.pioneerhumanservices.org. 206.766.7033. terry.weber@p-h-s.com.
Sumyyah Bilal is the Executive Director of EUREKA, the Career Information System. Her experience with computerized career information delivery began in 1979, as a member of the Florida SOICC's staff. Then she was Director of the Montana Career Information System from 1981 - 1986. She has been Executive Director of EUREKA since 1986. Other careers include secondary and college teaching; career counseling; and program design and administration. Her education includes a bachelor's degree from Tennessee State University, a masters of arts degree from the University of San Francisco, and the most tangible education of all, on the job training. She is a member of professional associations including the California Counseling Association and the California Career Development Association, http://www.eureka.org, 1.888.463.2247.
Sally Gelardin, Ed.D., is a certified Career Development Facilitator eLearning Instructor (CDFI), a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC), and a certified Job and Career Transition Coach. Through e-learning curriculum design and development, career expert audio interviews, presentations, radio/television interviews, and publications for print and electronic media, Sally demonstrates ways workers in transition can develop lifelong employability skills. Dr. Gelardin serves as Women's Studies, Psychology, and Education Portfolio Evaluator at the University of San Francisco. She is author of three books, Career and Caregiving: Empowering the Shadow Workforce of Family Caregivers ; Starting and Growing a Business in the New Economy; and The Mother-Daughter Relationship: Activities for Promoting Lifework Success. In 2008, she was honored by the California Career Development Association with the Robert Swan Award for Lifetime Achievement in Career Development. She received the 2009 Service Award for Outstanding Leadership Contribution to the California Counseling Association. http://www.careerwell.org. 415.312.4294.
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Introduction
Sumyyah Bilal has been Executive Director of EUREKA, the Career Information System, since 1986. Other careers include secondary and college teaching; career counseling; and program design and administration. Terry Weber is Manager of Workforce Development, Pioneers Human Service, Washington State. Most recently, he was Program Coordinator for Washington’s Employment Security Department Offender Employment Services (OES). In addition, he was the Supervisor over all programs - WIA, UI and TANF at WorkSource Mason County.
The combined efforts of Terry and Sumyyah total about 80 years to raise community awareness and provide educational opportunities for people with multiple challenges to become positive and productive citizens, family and community members. Terry has worked specifically on offender and reentry issues for over 38 years. Terry and Sumyyah are going to discuss the issues of that population today, because this is one of the most underrepresented populations, and with the state of the economy, it has even more challenges finding work. But there are are promising programs, such as the one discussed on PBS yesterday (How To Succeed in Business by Really, Really Trying). Terry and Sumyyah will share tips on how we can support those who have a criminal record, but have been rehabilitated and are ready to move forward in their lives to be productive, contributing members of society. Welcome Sumyyah and Terry!
Interview Questions
- How do you define "offender?"
- When do you stop being an "offender" and become an "ex-offender?" (Sumyyah- "offended" population) – WA DOC – inmates significantly represent lower economic demographics, average 9thgrade education, 40% recidivism rate, and of the nearly 19,000 inmates assessed in 2010, 63% scored a high/moderate need for employment, 70% have no occupational/vocational skills, 57% had problems while employed and 10% had never been employed, 64.3% had barriers to employment and 47% of those barriers were identified as having a conviction was the barrier.
- How do we talk to people and how do we address people? Use “people 1st” language…a person with a conviction history – and use conviction not criminal – the person may have committed a criminal act but they have a conviction…they are not a “criminal”
- How do individuals with criminal records view themselves? (A lot of how we deal with life has to do with how we view ourselves) Help people see their strengths…not their barriers or weaknesses. Assessments should begin with the person’s strengths (which is difficult with low self-worth) or otherwise assessments are “barrier focused” on the problems…not the solutions. “Belief window” when a person believes “no one will hire me because I have a conviction…” a self-fulfilling prophecy which leads into the next question internal messages/identities
- What approach do we take as professionals in assisting this population? (i.e., building self esteem, surround self with positive people, identify your various identities)– Raising awareness around other identities the person has – not the labels that diminish the person’s worth – I would like to discuss the “Designing Your Life” activity to develop affirmative reminders that we used in the teleconference:
Personal – Positive – Positive Emotion – Realistic – Present Tense and how to use the process effectively. We can just add the steps on a slide (let me know) - What do ex-offenders need to say on application forms about their past convictions? (discussion of different state's rules; ban the box) Applicants need to be honest – however…never put your crime on the line – suggested responses…”not job related, Bondable, tax credit eligible, will explain in interview.” They should have a conviction history speech or declaration (Reentry guide New Directions page 90)http://www.wa.gov/esd/oes/docs/ReEntryGuide8-30.pdf We should refer the audience to this resource to help their customers.
Washington State: http://www.wa.gov/esd/oes/wac.htm (RCW is under Arrests: Also see RCW 43.43.834Background checks by business etc.
For other National and State info and resources - National HIRE Network - http://www.hirenetwork.org/ - What can career professionals and other helping professionals do about these applications and about other sources of discrimination in the community, such as housing? Contact the HIRE Network and join their efforts on a national and local level. Work to ban the box and to initiate discussions to make the population a protected class to stop discrimination and improve outcomes for public safety. Work on efforts of Certificates of Restoration which is a national effort as well as discussions on Collateral Consequences. King county and Seattle Human rights Commissions are taking the lead for Washington State to stop discriminatory acts for housing and employment.
What kinds of jobs would be more open to people with conviction histories? (i.e., city and county jobs) - How can the challenges that people with conviction records face be generalized to other populations with challenges and who have been discriminated against? Once the initial barrier(s) are addressed people can mainstream into resources services and programs more effectively. Especially if they “choose” to surround themselves with positive and productive people going where they want to go. Developing networking resources will be the most beneficial and effective for positive outcomes.
Thank you Sumyyah and Terry.
Poetics of Aging Conference, November 16 - 19. Submit proposals and register at http://www.poeticsofaging.org.
Upcoming August Interviews
- 9/1/11 Susan Musich, Passport Career: Make Your Career Move
(for college students, faculty, alumni, staff - work abroad) - 9/15/11 Helen Barrett, The Many Uses of e-Portfolios throughout One's Life and Career (with people of all ages, K - adult)
- 9/22/11 Eric Chester, Instilling Work Ethics in Young Students and Employees
- 9/29/11 Linda Hawes Clever, MD, The Fatigue Prescription: Four Steps To Renewing Your Energy, Health, and Life (burnt-out workers)
This is Dr. Sally Gelardin with Careerwell Tele-Interviews.
Join Careerwell Speakers at the Poetics of Aging Conference in San Francisco November 16 - 19, 2011.
Nader Shabahangi
Linda Hawes Clever