The Helping Justice-involved Reenter Employment (HIRE) initiative is proving that with the right support, justice-involved individuals can achieve remarkable career success. Jenny, a participant in the program, is a strong example of how the initiative changes lives. 

When Jenny entered Saint John’s Program for Real Change’s Female Community Reentry Program (FCRP), she had a clear goal to become a dog trainer. Through the FCRP, supported by HIRE, she turned that passion into reality.

Starting at Petco, Jenny built her skills and recently became a full-time Lead Dog Trainer at PetSmart. Following program guidelines, she saved over $25,000, enough to pay off restitution and secure her first apartment in years. Jenny’s success reflects both her determination and the critical support Saint John’s provides through HIRE, including stable housing, personalized case management, skills training, and wraparound services that help justice-impacted women and their families rebuild their lives.

For nearly 40 years, Saint John’s has served women and children in Sacramento, and through HIRE, they’ve already served 92 participants with 69 completing training. These numbers are on track to exceed enrollment goals with more than a year remaining in the grant.

The HIRE initiative represents a significant step forward in addressing the challenges faced by justice-involved individuals in the job market. By focusing on training and skill development, the initiative is not only opening doors for participants but also addressing workforce needs across various industries. The program aims to increase employment opportunities and job mobility for the reentry community, providing crucial training, reskilling, upskilling, and supportive services.

FoundationCCC’s Education to Work Partnerships Team within the Workforce Development Department is the Technical Assistance grantee on this initiative and is playing a pivotal role in supporting over 80 HIRE organizations throughout California. By employing human-centered design principles and a community of practice model, they’re fostering a collaborative environment that amplifies the impact of each grantee. This method ensures that organizations have access to the knowledge, skills, abilities, resources, and networks necessary to achieve their grant goals. 

The collaborative efforts between FoundationCCC, the California Workforce Development Board, and the numerous grantees, including Saint John’s, are creating a robust support system for those justice-involved individuals seeking to reenter the workforce.

Learn more about HIRE >