Springfield Business Journal_2019-02-25

Hilton Garden Inn 4155 S. Nature Center Way $22 per person $150 per table of 8 Includes breakfast PURCHASE TICKETS AT SBJ.net/12People LIVE INTERVIEW WITH EDITOR ERIC OLSON Q&A: MARCH 19 | 7:30-9 AM SPONSORED BY Director, Prosper Springfield WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW FRANCINE PRATT: She’s coordinating the efforts of 300 organizations at Prosper Springfield to bolster the workforce and stop poverty. #12People F R A N C I N E P R AT T T H E T R O U B L E S H O O T E R Liaison: Huber & Associates SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 51 FEB. 25-MARCH 3, 2019 FROM THE COVER ON THE RECORD helped create a program with the Job Cen- ter in 2006 called About Persons with Past Legal Issues in Employment. May said AP- PLIE classes provide job-seeking tips for people with legal convictions to help them find employment. The classes are gener- ally held in the Missouri Job Center offices in Springfield and Branson, and occa- sionally at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield and the Ozark Correc- tional Center in Fordland.  Those classes are single-day offer- ings, typically three hours long, she said. In July 2018, an ex- panded version of the program was introduced at OCC that works with inmates who are 60-90 days away from release. The six-week class dives deep into preparing soon-to-be-released offenders find their path into the work- force. T.J. Parnique, a workforce develop- ment specialist with the Job Center, teaches the class, which incor- porates resume basics, mock interviews and filling out applications. It concludes with a job fair held in the prison. “We’ve had some good success. We just finished our third class,” May said, adding 24 have completed the program at OCC thus far. Of that total, 16 have been released from prison, and at least 10 have been em- ployed. Becoming a job seeker May said she has pretty high expectations for the program, and believes its newer and lengthier opportunity at OCC can result in a lot of success. The class teaches offenders to talk about their past honestly, she said, but to also build up their job-seeking skills. “The class, whether it’s out- side prison or inside, what we teach them is how to job search as a job seeker, not as someone with a legal issue,” May said. “But we also teach them how to talk about that legal issue in an honest way. It’s not about lying; it’s not about covering it up. It’s who they are and who they will be for the rest of their life.” Jacobs said the DOC and Springfield programs both have the goal of breaking the cycle of recidivism, while also providing employers the option to pursue a workforce solution they may have not previously consid- ered.  “Although these people have a felony in their history, they can still be a very solid employee for them and help them meet their production needs as well,” Jacobs said, adding a number of those incarcerated are learning skills like welding, electrical work and plumbing. Others may be working in sewing or manufacturing facto- ries in prison, she added. “When these people come out, they have skills that can be very attractive to a poten- tial employer,” she said, adding employers are by and large very open-minded. Citing DOC numbers, Jacobs said 80 percent of the state pris- on population is nonviolent.  Thomas said she’s comfort- able hiring former offenders, and has advocated the DOC program to other employers seeking an- swers to their staffing shortages.  “I believe 100 percent in the program,” she said. “Have we hit our total stride? I don’t think so. But I think we’ve made a huge gain.” Shelle Jacobs: Former inmates can be solid workers if given a chance. Carmen May: Local class teaches offenders interview skills. 3.1% Missouri’s December 2018 unemployment rate Freedom Bank of Southern Missouri to Excel Investments LP; 1,150,000; sec. 21, twp. 29, range 21, SE. Gershman Mortgage to Andrew M. Dishon and Cassidy M. Andersen; 130,000; L31, Logan Estates. Gershman Mortgage to David E.A. and Darla J. Johnson; 173,794; L7, Bent Tree, Phase II. Gershman Mortgage to Malachi W. Stowe; 124,643; L18, Brittany Ridge. Gershman Mortgage to Jean B. and Porter M. Thomas; 112,917; L2, Western Village. Gershman Mortgage to Delarae Arlene Walker; 119,790; L87, Country Side Es- tates. Great Southern Bank to Colby and Jennifer Jin Grove; 256,000; sec. 26, twp. 29, range 20, NW. Great Southern Bank to Mark Wells; 127,200; L113, Glendale Estates. Guaranty Bank to Bobs Parking LLC; 1,165,000; sec. 1, twp. 29, range 20, NW. Guaranty Bank to Brandon and Courtney Wise; 420,000; L40, Stone Meadow, Phase IV. Legacy Bank & Trust to BP Real Estate Holdings LLC; 107,500; L62, Park Crest Village Circle. Legacy Bank & Trust to Jutta M. Harris; 306,600; sec. 33, twp. 29, range 20, NW, SW and SE. Legacy Bank & Trust to Irwin Outdoor Ser- vices LLC; 115,000; L6, Link Estate de- velopment. Legacy Bank & Trust to 414 N. Boonville LLC; 203,000; L1-5, McNulty. Missouri Mortgage Services LLC to Tamara A. Bueler and Robert D. Heisler; 103,500; L13, Meadowlark Heights, second addition. Nations Direct Mortgage LLC to Richard L. Hogan and April D. Doty; 117,727; L6, Woodland Hills, second addition. New American Funding to Doyle Jr. and Community Re-entry With 18,000-20,000 offenders being released from the state prison system on an annual basis, Department of Correc- tions officials say many can be a viable option for employers to consider in the workforce. Employment also can reduce recidivism, according to the DOC. Here are some program stats: • 69 percent of offenders who’ve never had full-time employment return to prison within two years; • 23 percent of offenders who’ve had full- time employment return to prison within two years; • 80 percent of prison admissions are for nonviolent offenses (drugs, DWI, property, etc.); • 95 percent of incarcerated offenders will one day be released. Source: Missouri Department of Corrections Continued on page 56