Bay Area Workforce Development Board

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Bay Area Workforce Development Board

Bay Area Workforce Development Board (WDB) is a non-profit corporation that develops a skilled workforce by strategically allocating and coordinating resources to address community needs by working through others for the benefit of all. Bay Area WDB's Corrections Re-entry Programs promote self- sufficiency for individuals returning to the community after incarceration. They serve incarcerated people in the county jails, to medium security and maximum security institutions. The primary correctional program administered by Bay Area Workforce Development Board is the Department of Corrections Windows to Work Program. It is a pre and post release program designed to address criminogenic needs that can lead to recidivism including employment, anti-social cognition/personality, anti-social companions, education and life experiences. Currently they are serving the Taycheedah Correctional Institution (serving women), Kettle Moraine and Green Bay Correctional Institutions serving males. Service referrals are from the institution, DOC central office and self-referral. Individuals must be currently incarcerated, releasing in no less than 90 days no more than 12 months and remaining on community supervision for at least one year. Participants receive five program components prior to release: Cognitive Intervention, General Work Skills and Expectations, Financial Literacy, Community Resources and Job Seeking Skills. Post release services include accessing food shelter, clothing, transportation, work supplies, employment assistance coupled with mentoring and counseling with the coach. Additionally, there WI Lakeshore County Jail Training & Employment Initiative is a multi-agency (Bay Area WDB; Lakeshore Technical College; and Great Lakes Training & Development Corp.) collaborative pilot program providing technical education within the Lakeshore Region Jail system (includes Manitowoc and Sheboygan County jails). This short two-credit Industrial Welding Certificate gives individuals a technical education opportunity that allows them to secure meaningful employment in the high-demand manufacturing sector, earning family-sustaining wages, bettering local communities, and significantly reducing the likelihood of recidivism.

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