NCJ Number
213434
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: June 2005 Pages: 41-43
Date Published
June 2005
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the findings of a preliminary investigation into the 2004 demonstration project of Canada's National Employability Skills Program (NESP), which is intended to help offenders acquire or improve their level of basic employability skills.
Abstract
Preliminary findings show that the NESP helped participants improve their employability skills. Participants experienced positive increases in postrelease employment planning, resolving problems with employers and colleagues, and understanding the skills they needed to keep or advance in their current employment. In addition, participants had gains on all 11 essential employability skills. These are communication, problem solving, managing information, using numbers, working with others, leadership abilities, adaptability, demonstrating positive attitudes and behaviors, being responsible, participating in projects and tasks, and working safely. Work supervisors independently corroborated the offenders' level of employability skills. Offenders also improved in the accuracy of their self-evaluations of their employability skills, which helped in motivating them to set realistic goals. The NESP focuses on helping offenders develop the 11 general employability skills previously mentioned. The program consists of 15 sessions of 2 to 2.5 hours. Usually, the program is delivered three to four times a week. As part of the program, approximately 100 exercises are completed during group sessions or as homework assignments. These exercises are intended to assist in reshaping offender's attitudes toward themselves, others, and the workplace, as well as improve related interpersonal skills and behaviors. The 2004 demonstration project included 29 male offenders from 4 institutions across Canada. Of the 29 offenders who began the program, 24 completed all 15 sessions. 9 notes