Building A Fair Chance Workforce System
A quality job is an important ingredient for health as well as a top need identified in all four communities participating in the Community Collaborative for Children’s Success initiative. Unfortunately, many community members face employment barriers when they return from jail or prison, making it difficult to rebuild their lives. Funders, workforce development agencies, and local governments throughout the Bay Area are working to build a Fair Chance Workforce System that will increase employment for people with criminal records. Here in San Mateo County, Jobtrain provides numerous supportive services, training, and job placement for community members with criminal records as well as construction trades and culinary training programs within San Mateo County jails. The National Employment Law Project also recently created a guide for healthcare employers on hiring talent with records.