Job Programs for Reentry Populations - Fire Camp Expansion

JUSTICE CARE OPPORTUNITY

County Spending Category
1.3 Care First, Jails Last
Federal Expenditure Category
Assistance to Unemployed or Undermployed Workers (e.g. job training, subsidized employment, employment supports or incentives)
Project Launch Date
01/31/2024
Anticipated End Date
12/31/2026

Project Contacts

Indicators & Metrics to Date

  • Number of lead local community-based organizations engaged in recruitment.
    0
  • Engage County partners such as Probation, DCFS, and Parole to identify potential participants.
    0
  • Execute contract with a service provider who will manage applications and enrollment of participants
    0
  • Execute contract with service providers who will provide residential and participant supportive services at the site.
    0
  • Fire fighter training curriculum developed.
    0
  • Number of participants enrolled in fire fighter training program.
    0
  • Number of units of available housing at Camp Gonzales.
    0
  • Number of participants that secure interim or permanent housing by the end of the training program.
    0
  • Number of jobs secured within a year of completing the program.
    0

Target Populations

  • Systems Impacted Individuals
  • Systems Involved Individuals
  • Individuals Experiencing Mental Health Disorders
  • Individuals Experiencing Substance Use Disorders
  • People Experiencing Homelessness
  • TAY exiting the foster care system

Project Description

The Los Angeles Training Center (LATC) is focused on providing training and hands-on work experience for transition aged youth with prior justice and/or foster system involvement, and veterans. The LATC will provide youth and veterans with housing, training, education, career counseling, as well as other needed services with the assistance of County Departments and community-based providers. This project will position participants for employment in the fire service. The program identifies and outreaches to youth who are interested in working in the fire service. Prior to pandemic, the CDCR supported in-custody fire training camp programs at various locations throughout the State. During the pandemic, the State moved to release as many incarcerated people as possible from the prisons. This reduced the number of eligible participants for the in-custody fire camps. This did not reduce the number of people with justice system involvement who are interested in this career path, but it meant that they did not have the opportunity to experience the training and work while incarcerated. Without these services and training, post-release reentry populations who are highly vulnerable and subject to economic downturns, no longer have access to employment opportunities are more likely to experience homelessness, to recidivate, and to face the negative health consequences of a COVID infection. Similarly, the program seeks to serve youth who are exiting the foster system, and veterans. The pandemic made the impact of losing important support and resources even more serious for this population. Linking this population to housing, career training, and other services will help to reduce the negative impact of the pandemic. According to Youth.gov, youth 16 to 27 in lower-income families remained more likely to be unemployed in greater numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic than other youth in their same age category. Moreover, up to 56% of low-income youth between 18-24 experienced a loss of employment income within their household during the COVID-19 pandemic, further widening those barriers. In addition, Los Angeles County is home to approximately 232,000 veterans, and JIVs face unique challenges that differentiate them from their civilian counterparts, including higher rates of trauma, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders. These issues, intensified by involvement with the justice system, place Justice Involved Veterans (JIVs) at an increased risk for homelessness and suicide. The LACTC will provide a pathway for these youth to transition into adulthood. This project serves a bridge to address the negative economic impacts of the pandemic and ensure that populations most in need are able to recover equitably.

Goals & Objectives

Goal Description Through providing training and employment access, this program aims to provide financial stability, sense of purpose, reduce stress, and improve overall physical and mental health well-being for participants who complete the fire fighter training program.

Objective Description Enroll at least 120 eligible participants throughout LA County in the program by the end of 2026.

Activity Description Engage local community-based organizations and County partners such as Probation, DCFS, Parole, Department of Veterans Administration to identify potential participants. Conduct outreach with partners to potential participants through targeted information campaigns to include flyers, literature, phone calls, etc.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
15 Performance Number of lead local community-based organizations engaged in recruitment. 3.00
16 Performance Engage County partners such as Probation, DCFS, and Parole to identify potential participants. 1.00

Objective Description Enter into a contract with a service provider to oversee engagement, enrollment, and participant training and a second provider who will oversee the on-site residential services and participant supportive services by the end of 2023.

Activity Description Contracting with a service provider who will manage applications and enrollment of participants. This service provider will work to let all eligible participants know about the opportunity, screen all eligible applicants for the program, and manage the training of the participants.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
17 Performance Execute contract with a service provider who will manage applications and enrollment of participants 0.00 1.00

Activity Description Contracting with service providers who will provide residential and participant supportive services at the site.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
18 Performance Execute contract with service providers who will provide residential and participant supportive services at the site. 0.00 1.00

Objective Description By 2026 the program will provide training and services that link transition-aged youth who have experience in the justice and/or foster care systems, and veterans to fire training and support services that will mitigate the impact of the pandemic over time

Activity Description Develop a training curriculum aimed at providing entry-level skills to participants so they are job-ready at graduation.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
19 Program Outcome Fire fighter training curriculum developed. 1.00

Activity Description Local CBOs contracted will participants with life skills training, job training, re-entry supportive and restorative services. These activities include: - Job training and supportive restorative services to program participants. - Coaching and life skills services to program participants. - Career counseling services to program participants - Assistance with applying to open jobs to program participants
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
20 Service Delivery Number of participants enrolled in fire fighter training program. 120.00

Outcome Description Upon the completion of the LATC, participants will have the necessary resources to secure job placements and secure housing with continued support services.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Performance Number of jobs secured within a year of completing the program. 30.00
2 Program Outcome Number of participants that secure interim or permanent housing by the end of the training program. 100.00

Goal Description [INSERT DESCRIPTION]

Objective Description By the end of 2023 Camp Gonzales facilities will be available to provide housing to participants. This will provide housing stability of program participants by providing on site free of charge housing options for active participants who have experience in the justice and/or foster care systems in order to support program completion.

Activity Description Complete facility upgrades to Camp Gonzales site by end of 2023 for housing to be utilized by program participants.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
21 Service Delivery Number of units of available housing at Camp Gonzales. 60.00

Activity Description Renovate additional buildings at Camp Gonzales to provide expanded housing for program participants by mid-2025.
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
21 Service Delivery Number of units of available housing at Camp Gonzales. 60.00