The new I-MATTER program, launched by Safer Foundation, is providing jobs and educational opportunities for young adults whose previous mistakes have landed them in the criminal legal system or for those who left high school prior to graduation. The Safer Young Adult Reentry Partnership, known as I-MATTER, focuses on job training and placement in high-demand, […]
The new I-MATTER program, launched by Safer Foundation, is providing jobs and educational opportunities for young adults whose previous mistakes have landed them in the criminal legal system or for those who left high school prior to graduation. The Safer Young Adult Reentry Partnership, known as I-MATTER, focuses on job training and placement in high-demand, high-paying, long-term employment paths for clients in the Quad Cities. Launched in January, the program serves those who have been justice-impacted. That includes individuals who have been incarcerated or detained in prison, a juvenile detention center, immigration detention center, local jail or other facility. It also can include those who have been convicted but not incarcerated, charged but not convicted, and those just arrested. Safer secured a $4.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in July of 2021 to help establish I-MATTER. The three-year Young Adult Reentry Partnership grant is enabling Safer Foundation Quad Cities, which has offices in Davenport and Moline, as well as two Chicago-based Safer sites, to assist young adults transitioning back into society.“The connection to education, training and employment opportunities that Safer’s I-MATTER programming provides is pivotal to both the individual and the larger community,” Safer’s Quad Cities Director Erica Lee said. To qualify for the DOL grant, Safer had to establish partnerships with the criminal legal system, at least one employer, and a capacity-building partner. Safer teamed up with Black Hawk College (BHC) and Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) to serve both sides of the Quad Cities.The two colleges will implement new programming to offer accelerated learning for Safer’s target population. Both colleges offer a wide range of different options including associate degrees, career programs, certifications to many other services that can help I-MATTER participants.Safer works with colleges, workforce partners, and more to help participants in applying for any financial assistance available for occupational training as well as seeking out possible scholarships. “Our goal is to help secure 100% of the funding as none of the candidates would be in a position to pay for this program on their own,” said Sue Davison, the new program manager of Safer’s I-MATTER. To be eligible, participants must be ages 18 to 24 and reside in qualified census tracts in Scott and Rock Island counties. Applicants must call ahead to (309) 524-6002 to be sure they geographically qualify for the program.
Igniting and educating potential
The DOL grant along with some financial assistance from John Deere has allowed BHC and Safer to bring the nationally recognized IGNITE program to the Moline campus. IGNITE offers a new Introduction to Advanced Manufacturing program. The grant will enable an estimated 24 IGNITE participants from Safer to attend tuition free. Richard Bush, BHC’s dean of Career Programs, described Ignite as “a short micro-credentialing training program that allows individuals with little or no knowledge of manufacturing to gain a fundamental understanding of several aspects of advanced manufacturing.”IGNITE, which is available to the public, will give them “a taste of each of those (aspects), some hands-on (experience), and develop either a broader or more specific interest in an area of advanced manufacturing,” he said. Mr. Bush added: “We are honored to partner with Safer and to help individuals who have had justice involvement change their personal economics and their futures. That is the essence of why community colleges exist, is to not only be that second chance but that tool to refine and define the future of each individual who comes through our doors.” In the future, BHC could offer other additional IGNITE courses.“Students can take the IGNITE program and bridge it into our certificate and associate of applied science degrees in manufacturing,” Mr. Bush said. He added the college tries to “not only meet the needs of area employers but more importantly meet the needs of our community, each individual and find their passion and purpose in life and help them fulfill that.” Paula Arends, director of EICC’s Continuing Education and Professional Development, said, “As a community college we have a really unique opportunity to change people’s lives, and sometimes that happens in a matter of weeks. It can make such a big difference when somebody has that independence and that ability to be self-sufficient.”Applauding the partnership with Safer and others, she added: “It helps us to bridge things for people and make it easier for them to make that leap.” Ms. Arends pointed out several programs of interest to I-MATTER participants, highlighting EICC’s Truck Driving Certification. It takes eight weeks to complete and includes classroom and driving instruction in rural, urban, highway, and interstate settings. Upon completion, students are prepared to take the state performance exams for a CDL license. Other high-demand sectors include: construction; healthcare; manufacturing; advanced manufacturing; hospitality; and transportation, distribution and logistics.
DOL grant focus 2nd chances
Since 1972, Safer has been providing employment, educational and supportive services for individuals with criminal records. It believes in the power of the individual and in second chances. “With this grant award, we will be able to facilitate access to employment training and links to high-quality, high-demand, industry-recognized credentials that are needed in the area’s labor market,” said Ms. Davison. The I-MATTER program will provide an estimated 350 participants – 116 in the Quad Cities – with education, training, and employment opportunities over the three years of the grant. The program is scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2024.Ms. Davison said the DOL grant requires each Safer client be given a one-year follow-up period. We’re still able to give support services if it relates to employment. Anything to keep them retained in employment. If they need work boots or clothing attire, anything that will help keep them engaged in employment … Just really being there and letting them know they’re supported.” Safer also offers career exploration and assessment, skills and training, development of a career portfolio, mock interviews, financial aid assistance, job placement, and retention follow-up.
Turning lives around
For many, the nation’s prison system has the reputation of being a revolving door for all age groups, according to Safer. But individuals 24 or younger have a higher chance of getting trapped in that door. A five-year U.S. Department of Justice study (2012-2017), published in 2021 and conducted in 34 states showed that “81% of prisoners age 24 or younger at release in 2012 were arrested within five years of release, compared to 74% of those ages 25 to 39 and 61% of those age 40 or older.”Brian Monroe, Safer Quad Cities’ assistant director, told the QCBJ that in fiscal year 2022 the organization assisted in the job placement of 259 Safer participants. He added that Safer’s employment services program boasts an 82% job retention rate after one year and participants earned an average wage of $17.02/hour – far outpacing Safer’s set target of $11.75/hour.Former Safer Quad Cities client, Jeffery Wallace, who now is a Safer Foundation advisory board member, said “A lot of men come in (prison) broken men. A lot of men come in with a lot of traumas and they’ve never been habilitated, to begin with, so rehabilitating them is something that doesn’t really work with them.”The Davenport native was in and out of the legal system until age 24. Knowing he wanted to change his life and not go back to prison, Mr. Wallace said he got involved with the Safer Foundation in 1998. He credits Safer’s assistance in helping him get a job, evaluate his skills, and adjust to life on the outside. Mr. Monroe said Safer currently has 40 employer partners throughout the Quad Cities area including: Sterilite, Hill & Valley Premium Bakery/J&J Snack Foods, Sears Seating, XPAC, Kraft Heinz, Tyson Foods and many others, large and small. Safer is always looking to recruit other employers as partners.
A video about Safer Foundation's 50th anniversary...
