I recently had the opportunity to visit RecycleForce, a social enterprise in Indianapolis, IN that operates a recycling business while providing transitional jobs and comprehensive support services to formerly incarcerated individuals.

RecycleForce received a $5.5 million grant through the Department of Labor’s Enhanced Transition Jobs Demonstration (ETJD) to serve low-income, non-custodial fathers with criminal records. To implement this program, RecycleForce has teamed up with a number of community partners, including two faith-based programs, Changed Life and New Life Development Ministries that assist and hire formerly incarcerated individuals.  

In my conversations with the staff and program participants, I learned how this project is not only helping people gain valuable work experience but is also helping them support their children. RecycleForce supports non-custodial parents by helping them reconnect with their children, strengthen their parenting skills, open-up communication lines with the children’s mother, and effectively manage their child support payments with the Marion County Child Support Division. 

RecycleForce provides employment training and creates jobs, but more than that, they also transform the lives of the men and women who come through their doors.

The below video features a RecycleForce client discussing his responsibilities as a role model to his children:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HYl_e-7S6A&feature=player_embedded

Learn more about the work being implemented through Enhanced Transitional Jobs program at the Department of Labor. 

Phil Tom is the Director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Labor