BASS BDS017 2017-19 Biennium Budget Decision Package Agency: 540 Employment Security Department (ESD) Decision Package Code/Title: EX Ex-offender Employment Budget Period: 2017-2019 Budget Level: PL Performance Level Agency Recommendation Summary Text: The Employment Security Department (ESD) requests additional appropriation authority to support strategic employment/re-employment initiatives that target ex-offenders. With this additional authority, ESD will provide the following, in concert with and support of Executive Order 16-05 coordinated efforts led by the Department of Corrections (DOC) Reentry Division and Juvenile Rehabilitation. ESD s vision is to encourage development of an ex-offender transition model that mirrors the successful military transition model developed by the Military Transition Council. This model would allow for WorkSource professionals to engage with every transitioning ex-offender, registering them in WorkSourceWA.com and connecting them with their local WorkSource for a warm hand-off, before they leave incarceration. Operational Support Provide the training and technical assistance needed in WorkSource offices with ex-offender specific curriculum and resources, equipping program and operational staff with the expertise needed to effectively assist ex-offenders in preparing for, finding, and retaining employment. Program staff will include Veterans, Trade Act, and WorkFirst staff, and operational staff include Labor Exchange, Business Services, and other staff. Training and Technical Assistance Community Support Strengthen the skills and knowledge within organizations that work with ex-offenders by extending training and technical assistance to partners and community stakeholders. WorksourceWA.com will be promoted. Ex-offender Specific Services WorkSource offices will conduct workshops, job clubs, and one-to-one services to assist ex-offenders in identifying and addressing barriers to employment. These efforts will create efficiencies through use of existing WorkSource resources, and increase ex-offender success in finding meaningful work. Female Ex-offender Employment Pilot Project - Partnerships will be created with the Department of Corrections (DOC) and other community organizations to assist a targeted group of female ex-offenders in achieving employment in family wage jobs. Revision to the Serving Customers with a Conviction History video This fourteen-minute video was created in 2007. While much of its information remains relevant for working with ex-offenders today, creating new segments and making updates will make it a more valuable tool for workforce professionals in working with employers and ex-offender job seekers. Outreach to Incarcerated Veterans Provide information and resources to incarcerated veterans that will assist them in finding opportunities for employment and stability upon release.
Fiscal Summary: Operating Expenditures FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 Fund 134-1 1,346,000 1,215,000 0.00 0.00 Total Cost 1,346,000 1,215,000 0.00 0.00 Staffing FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FTEs 12.00 12.00 0.0 0.0 Object of Expenditure FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 Object A Salary 636,000 636,000 0.00 0.00 Object B Benefits 248,000 248,000 0.00 0.00 Object E & Other Goods and Services 462,000 331,000 0.00 0.00 ESD believes this plan will be sustainable beyond FY2019 at the level of 12 FTE shown above. Current nonrecurring technology projects will be complete by the end of FY2019. This will allow the agency to fully absorb this effort into its current spending authority, without needing to request additional spending authority in future biennia. Package Description The Employment Security Department (ESD) requests additional appropriation authority to support strategic employment/re-employment initiatives that target ex-offenders. With this additional authority, ESD will provide the following, in concert with and support of Executive Order 16-05 coordinated efforts led by Department of Corrections (DOC) Reentry Division and Juvenile Rehabilitation. With approximately 16,780 released ex-offenders being supervised by the Department of Corrections across the state, there is an ongoing need to provide staff with training and strategies that help ex-offenders find employment and find it faster. Unemployment is a major risk factor for recidivism. Research shows that at the time of arrest, more than half of ex-offenders were unemployed. When released, ex-offenders find the search for employment hindered by barriers such as lack of education credentials, limited work history, and skills needed to navigate the labor market. With approval of this decision package, WorkSource offices will be better equipped to serve job-seekers from this population. Base Budget: If the proposal is an expansion or alteration of a current program or service, provide information on the resources now devoted to the program or service. Please include annual expenditures and FTEs by fund and activity (or provide working models or backup materials containing this information). This is a new program. Decision Package expenditure, FTE and revenue assumptions, calculations and details: Agencies must clearly articulate the workload or policy assumptions used in calculating expenditure and revenue changes proposed.
This proposal assumes 12 new WSS4 FTEs at Range 48 Step L, along with standard goods and services and general staff related expenses will provide training and technical assistance to WorkSource offices with offender specific curriculum and resources. Trainings will benefit program and operational staff. Decision Package Justification and Impacts The request supports the Governor s Results Washington by creating a Prosperous Economy. It also supports objective IS5 of the ESD strategic plan by recruiting more WorkSource job seekers from targeted sources. What specific performance outcomes does the agency expect? Describe and quantify the specific performance outcomes the agency expects as a result of this funding change. Performance Measure detail: Agency Level Incremental Changes Activity: A002 One-Stop WorkSource System FY1 FY2 Performance Measure: 00317 Percentage of job seekers who get a job 10.4% 5.3% within three months of the quarter when they received services 00322 Number of job seekers who get a job 13,240 6,739 within three months of the quarter Fully describe and quantify expected impacts on state residents and specific populations served. ESD s ability to offer targeted services to persons with a conviction history is clearly aligned with the Agency Strategic Plan: RJ2 Job Seekers Gaining the right employment and career progress they need to prosper and RS1 Expanded use of WorkSource Helping more targeted customers succeed, and supports the Governor s Executive Order 16-05 Building Safe and Strong Communities Through Successful Reentry. The primary areas of focus will be the continued growth of opportunities for all ex-offenders through the provision of one-on-one case management and workshops to increase the employability skills of exoffenders. Statewide, communities and families of ex-offenders will be positively impacted as increased numbers of ex-offenders find employment. Public safety will increase because of the negative correlation between an individual s status in the workforce and his/her likelihood of committing a crime. As employment benefits ex-offenders through rehabilitation, increased skill levels, increased confidence, and increased income, the positive impacts on the individual will ripple into the ex-offender s family and community. In the first year, we expect the following outcomes: Engage with every transitioning ex-offender, registering them in WorkSourceWA.com and connecting them with their local WorkSource for a warm-handoff, before they leave incarceration. Serve 1,500 transitioning ex-offenders through WorkSource, including 40 veterans and 70 females in the pilot program. Secure positive employment and retention outcomes for 675 people, which is 45% of the population served.
What are other important connections or impacts related to this proposal? Please complete the following table and provide detailed explanations or information below: Impact(s) To: Identify / Explanation Regional/County impacts? Yes Provide training to ex-offenders leading to employment with decreased recidivism rate among exoffenders Other local gov t impacts? Yes Provide employment opportunities to exoffenders reducing the rate of recidivism rates of exoffenders. Tribal gov t impacts? Yes Increased employment, longer stays of employment, increased wages, reduced recidivism rates. Other state agency impacts? Yes Greater cost savings to state agencies by increasing employment opportunities and reducing the recidivism rate. Responds to specific task force, report, mandate or exec order? Does request contain a compensation change? Does request require a change to a collective bargaining agreement? Facility/workplace needs or impacts? Yes EO 16-05 Building Safe and Strong Communities Through Successful Reentry. Capital Budget Impacts? Is change required to existing statutes, rules or contracts? Is the request related to or a result of litigation? Is the request related to Puget Sound recovery? Identify other important connections Identify lawsuit (please consult with Attorney General s Office): If yes, see budget instructions Section 14.4 for additional instructions Please provide a detailed discussion of connections/impacts identified above. The connections/impacts are positive employment for the ex-offender, businesses hiring strong, motivated employees and reducing the recidivism rate.
What alternatives were explored by the agency and why was this option chosen? Reductions in federal and state funding eliminated WorkSource ex-offender programs and services in 2014. Without additional appropriation authority, the agency has no other means of providing targeted services to this population. What are the consequences of not funding this request? Services for ex-offenders will be limited, thus increasing the possibility of recidivism of ex-offenders. How has or can the agency address the issue or need in its current appropriation level? The agency cannot address this need more broadly at its current appropriation level. A small amount of activity is taking place, specifically with veterans. The veterans staff is engaged in efforts to connect with incarcerated veterans in jails and the prison system. This effort, though not funded to the level needed for consistency across all areas, establishes an early connection that provides continuity into the veteran s postrelease life, when she/he enters the job market. While the program does not have resources to provide standardized services across the state, some offices are performing warm hand-offs through an introduction to the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) at the veteran s home of record. Currently, DVOP programs in 11 offices across the state serve 21 corrections facilities, including state prisons, county/local jails, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Other supporting materials: Please attach or reference any other supporting materials or information that will help analysts and policymakers understand and prioritize your request. N/A. Information technology: Does this Decision Package include funding for any IT-related costs, including hardware, software, services (including cloud-based services), contracts or IT staff? Yes Continue to IT Addendum below and follow the directions on the bottom of the addendum to meet requirements for OCIO review.)
2017-19 IT Addendum Part 1: Itemized IT Costs Please itemize any IT-related costs, including hardware, software, services (including cloud-based services), contracts (including professional services, quality assurance, and independent verification and validation), or IT staff. Be as specific as you can. (See chapter 12.1 of the operating budget instructions for guidance on what counts as IT-related costs ) Information Technology Items in this DP (insert rows as required) Item 1 Item 2 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 Total Cost Enter Sum Enter Sum Enter Sum Enter Sum Part 2: Identifying IT Projects If the investment proposed in the decision package is the development or acquisition of an IT project/system, or is an enhancement to or modification of an existing IT project/system, it will also be reviewed and ranked by the OCIO as required by RCW 43.88.092. The answers to the three questions below will help OFM and the OCIO determine whether this decision package is, or enhances/modifies, an IT project: 1. Does this decision package fund the development or acquisition of a Yes new or enhanced software or hardware system or service? 2. Does this decision package fund the acquisition or enhancements Yes of any agency data centers? (See OCIO Policy 184 for definition.) 3. Does this decision package fund the continuation of a project that Yes is, or will be, under OCIO oversight? (See OCIO Policy 121.) If you answered yes to any of these questions, you must complete a concept review with the OCIO before submitting your budget request. Refer to chapter 12.2 of the operating budget instructions for more information.