Goodwill program designed to help young adults go from jail to a job

Most adult ex-convicts know how tough it is to adjust from being in prison to being back in the real world, especially when they can’t find a job.

It can be even tougher for young adults with a prison record but no job experience.

But now Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is involved with a U.S. Department of Labor program designed to provide job skills and career training services for people 18 to 24 years old with a criminal history.

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is one of four Goodwill organizations in the country to offer LifeLaunch: Ignite, along with Goodwills in Atlanta, Louisville and Muskegon, Mich. A total of 415 young adults will participate across all four cities involved in the program, 105 of them in Allegheny County.

“Landing job opportunities for people with criminal histories has always been challenging, but never more so than now,” said Tiffanee Heywood, director of Youthworks at Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania. “Given the tough job market due to covid-19, those in our community looking for a second chance will benefit greatly from LifeLaunch: Ignite.”

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania was chosen for the Labor Department grant based on community need, its experience in reentry and young adult services and partnerships with community colleges, local criminal justice systems and employers.

“We are seeing tremendous disruptions in the job market, both here in Pittsburgh and across the country,” Heywood said. “With the addition of LifeLaunch: Ignite, Goodwill will be able to help many young adults focusing on turning their lives around for the better.”

The program’s goals are to keep recidivism rates at or below 20%, and help 60% of young adults obtain employment or enter post-secondary education upon completion of the program. Goodwill said it will track program participants after completion of LifeLaunch: Ignite.

It will operate for about two years with a one year follow-up period.

Young adults who want more information or want to enroll in the program can contact Whitney Miles at 412-632-1742 or email: whitney.miles@goodwillswpa.org.