Secretary Bump Announces Funding For Ex-Offender Re-Entry Partnership

Wednesday, December 24^th, 2008---Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Suzanne M. Bump today announced that the Patrick Administration has awarded funding to several regional partnerships serving ex-offenders in education, training, employment, and support services. The regional partnerships that received funds help ex-offenders achieve successful re-entry into communities providing both preventative public safety measures and an economic boost to the regions.

“This initiative builds models that will assist these individuals in acquiring the skills they need as they transition back to their communities and rejoin the workforce,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Suzanne M. Bump. “Ultimately, these programs will help people contribute to the economic success of their families, their communities, and the Commonwealth.”

Regions selected for the grants include: Boston received $600,000, Hampden received $600,000, Central (Worcester/Framingham) received $700,000, and Bristol County(New Bedford/Fall River) received $700,000. Grant funding provided to the local Workforce Investment Boards in the four regions will support projects designed and implemented by a collaboration of workforce development, criminal justice, and community partners.

Leadership teams convened for each regional project include the local Workforce Investment Boards as well as the county sheriffs, the Massachusetts Department of Correction, the Parole Board, business leaders and a range of others. The regions have developed plans that will support successful reentry by building partnerships that will mesh education, training, employment and support services such as substance abuse/mental health treatment and counseling, housing, transportation for ex-offenders.

This initiative is one of the recommendations of the Governor’s Interagency Task Force on Pre- & Post Release programming, chaired by Secretary Suzanne M. Bump and convened by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. A report of this Task Force, which provides an overview of existing education, training, supportive and employment services for ex-offenders is available at http://www.mass.gov/eolwd.