“This will significantly enhance employment services for those who are nearing the end of their sentences,” said Governor DeWine while visiting the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville this afternoon. “We want all Ohioans to have the opportunity to live up to their God-given potential, and this expansion of OhioMeansJobs into Ohio’s correctional facilities supports that goal.”
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Director Matt Damschroder, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) Director Annette Chambers-Smith, and Ohio Department of Youth Services (ODYS) Director Amy L. Ast applauded today’s announcement.
“ODJFS is committed to assisting job seekers from all backgrounds, and we are thrilled that the state’s returning citizens can now take advantage of the same great services as any other job seeker,” Director Damschroder said. “Just like the OhioMeansJobs Centers available to residents of every county, these specialized centers help individuals search for jobs, connect with employers, work on their resumes and interviewing skills, and find information about training programs and services. The goal is to help these citizens return to their communities with jobs or prepared to begin new careers immediately.”
Each center includes a virtual classroom with web-cams and TV monitors that allow training providers to deliver interactive workshops from remote locations. The centers also have computers that individuals can use to search for jobs, view instructional videos, and access employment resources.
“I applaud our staff who worked so hard to create these important areas in our prisons,” Director Chambers-Smith said. “Around 18,000 people leave Ohio’s prisons each year, and we want to do everything we can to help them succeed when they go home. The OhioMeansJobs Centers are another valuable resource to help people leaving our prisons get a head start on a better life for themselves and their families.”
When returning citizens are within 90 days of their release date, they can send a request for assistance to the OhioMeansJobs Center in their home county. They also can post a resume on the Ohio Reentry Connections website, which is the secure version of OhioMeansJobs.com.
Both Ohio Reentry Connections and OhioMeansJobs.com have special resources just for young job seekers, as well. These include career planning and exploration tools, assessments to identify possible future occupations, and information about budgeting and financial decisions.
“We are very excited that three youth facilities now have certified OhioMeansJobs Centers,” Director Amy L. Ast said. “They offer abundant resources for young people to plan for a brighter future, to cultivate soft skills, and to have access to another opportunity to assist them in achieving their full potential.”
ODJFS applied for and received a $4 million Pathway Home grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to make the certifications possible. The grant funded technology upgrades that have allowed the centers to provide enhanced employment services and improve communication with external programs and employers. The funding also allowed the hiring of re-entry navigators to provide one-on-one assistance to participants.
The following DRC facilities now have certified OhioMeansJobs Centers:
ODJFS oversees a variety of free employment-related services for Ohioans. Many of these services are provided by a network of 22 comprehensive and 66 affiliate OhioMeansJobs Centers across the state, in addition to the 13 OhioMeansJobs Centers at correctional facilities. OhioMeansJobs Centers offer career planning, job training, and other employment services to Ohioans looking for work and to employers seeking workers. Computers and phones are available for free to complete online training, prepare resumes, and search and apply for jobs. ODJFS also operates OhioMeansJobs.com, which offers many of the same services as the centers.
