Update on the Status of Improved Reentry Education in the PA DOC

In September 2015, the US Department of Education awarded nine Improved Reentry Education (IRE) grants to various organizations to develop reentry education in their communities.  The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections received a $1 million, three-year grant to establish Career Pathways within the department.  As part of the IRE grant (aka Career Pathways), the DOC created a framework to help inmates become "job ready" prior to release with education, employment and reentry assistance.  In addition to assisting inmates, the DOC wants to make sure the it is a credible partner in the workforce system.  Officials continue to meet with Labor & Industry and various workforce partners to collaborate on how best to serve the inmate population. 

Jobs for the Future (JFF), as the technical advisors for the IRE grant, publishes a "Voices of Reentry" series to highlight the grantees' work.  The DOC was eager to participate in this series to showcase the work done to date.  The article can be found in two locations: the US Department of Education website - https://lincs.ed.gov/reentryed/files/tools_pdf/IRE_1_Pennsylvania_DOCFNL_R.pdf and on the JFF website - https://www.jff.org/resources/2018-voices-reentry/. The JFF website also has articles about the other grantees. 

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Career Pathway Program Manager Dorenda Hamarlund at dhamarlund@pa.gov.