NCJ Number
52614
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
PROJECT H.I.R.E. (HASTENING SUCCESS BY IDENTIFYING NEEDS, RESEARCHING REFERRALS, AND EMPLOYING WARDS), IMPLEMENTED BY THE REDDING (CAL.) SUBPAROLE OFFICE TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE PAROLEE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE TRANSITION BETWEEN INSTITUTIONAL LIVING AND REENTERING THE COMMUNITY IS SOMETIMES MORE SUCCESSFUL FOR JUVENILE PAROLEES IF THEY CAN OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RELEASE. PROJECT H.I.R.E. WAS DEVELOPED TO INCREASE THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES OF JUVENILE WARDS BY RECORDING THEIR EMPLOYMENT HISTORIES, IDENTIFYING EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES FOR JOB REFERRALS, AND IDENTIFYING FACTORS THAT INTERFERE WITH SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT OF PAROLEES. THE PROJECT STAFF DID THE FOLLOWING: (1) DEVELOPED A SURVEY TO BE USED WHEN INTERVIEWING WARDS ABOUT THEIR EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND; (2) DRAFTED A FORM LETTER TO SEND TO WARDS EXPLAINING THE PROGRAM AND REQUESTING AN APPOINTMENT TO DISCUSS THEIR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY; (3) ESTABLISHED A SYSTEMATIC PROCEDURE FOR INTENSIVE EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING THROUGH A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH JUVENILE CLIENTS; AND (4) DEVELOPED AN INTERVIEW SCHEDULING AND CONTACT PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING COMMUNITY RESOURCE INFORMATION. DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF THE PROJECT, THE STAFF INTERVIEWED 38 WARDS, 9 OF WHOM ARE EMPLOYED. AT THE END OF THE MONTH, 23 OF THESE YOUTH WERE EMPLOYED, ATTESTING TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT. A LIST OF SUGGESTIONS FOR JOB HUNTING WAS DRAWN UP DURING THE PROJECT'S FIRST MONTH. PAROLEES SHOULD INFORM RELATIVES AND FRIENDS THAT THEY ARE JOB HUNTING AND ASK FOR SUGGESTIONS, FOLLOW THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER ADS, APPLY FOR JOBS EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND TAKE THE FIRST JOB THAT IS OFFERED AND WORK HARD AT IT TO OBTAIN A GOOD ON-THE-JOB REPUTATION. THE INTERVIEW PROCEDURE AND FORM LETTER FOR WARDS ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)