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ETA News Release: [09/22/2004]
Contact Name: Ed Frank
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Addresses National Conference on Offender Reentry

Department’s Emphasis on Ready4Work Program

CLEVELAND—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao addressed an audience of more than 1,000 at The National Conference on Offender Reentry in Cleveland today. The conference, hosted by the U.S. Department of Justice, highlighted its theme Coming Together Strengthening Partnerships and Planning for the Future with a series of speeches, workshops and a town hall meeting. Participants representing law enforcement, health care, housing, education, substance abuse, faith-based and job training organizations gathered for three days to discuss the implementation of President Bush’s $300 million Prisoner Reentry Initiative.

The Department of Labor is one of several agencies responsible for coordinating President Bush’s Prisoner Reentry Initiative, launched in 2002. The President’s plan provides funding and training and assistance to grant recipients across the country to develop reentry strategies for juvenile and adult high-risk offenders who have served a significant period of time in a secure facility. Ultimately, the reentry programs serve to ensure public safety and reduce serious violent crime.

“Helping former offenders develop job skills and find employment is key to reducing recidivism,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “Through its Ready4Work program, the Labor Department has provided more than $32.5 million in grants to organizations working with ex-offenders so they have a second chance to turn their lives around.”

The Labor Department’s Ready4Work program draws upon businesses, faith-based and community organizations and the criminal justice system to help ex-offenders transition back into their communities and into the local workforce. Partners in the program receive mentor training, technical assistance and skills development to help meet the challenges of preparing ex-offenders to reenter the marketplace and the workplace. Ready4Work also provides job training and placement, mentoring and support services for job seekers and references and candidate screening for employers.

“Research shows that most former offenders return to their home communities after they are released. One of the key challenges they face is the lack of employment opportunities for them,” Chao added. “Helping former offenders develop job skills and find meaningful work is the key to reducing recidivism.”

For further information on the Ready4Work program, visit the Department of Labor’s Center for Faith-Based and Community-Based Initiatives web page at www.dol.gov/cfbci/Ready4Work.htm. Further information about the President’s Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative can be found at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/reentry/learn.html.

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