To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Patrick Hernandez, Director, Human Resources and Kelly Folks, Division Manager, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!
Prepared By:
prepared
Sasha Easton, Workforce Administrator, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!
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presenter
Presenter: Kelly Folks, Division Manager, Arapahoe/Douglas Works! and/or Sasha Easton, Workforce Administrator, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!
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Subject:
title
Intergovernmental Agreement with the Pikes Peak Workforce Center for the Pathway Home Grant Initiative
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
Direction/Information:
Arapahoe/Douglas Works! would like to request approval to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Pikes Peak Workforce Center, by and through the El Paso/Teller Counties Consortium Executive Board, and its Workforce Development Board, and the Board of County Commissioners of Arapahoe County for the administration of the Pathway Home Program. Pathway Home is a pilot program to provide eligible, incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities and county jails with workforce development services, prior to release, and continue services after release by transitioning them into reentry programs in their community. Moreover, services will ensure that participants are prepared to meet the needs of the labor market by gaining skills valued by employers.
Request and Recommendation:
On behalf of Arapahoe/Douglas Works!, it is recommended that the Chair of the Board of County Commissioners be authorized to execute a new Intergovernmental Agreement between the Pikes Peak Workforce Center, by and through the El Paso/Teller Counties Consortium Executive Board, and its Workforce Development Board, and the Board of County Commissioners of Arapahoe County for the administration of the Pathway Home Program. If authorized, this program’s period of performance is through December 31, 2023
Links to Align Arapahoe:
1. Quality of Life: Approval allows Arapahoe/Douglas Works! to continue to provide best-in-class service delivery to our justice-involved citizens and business/industry, thereby ensuring the highest rate of return on public investment.
2. Fiscal Responsibility: This Agreement will allow Arapahoe/Douglas Works! to continue to strategically invest in human capital directly contributing to the overall economic vitality of the region.
3. Service First: Authorization will ensure that eligible participants receive exceptional workforce development services that are responsive to their dynamic needs.
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Background and Discussion: Background: The Pathway Home program is funded by a United States Department of Labor grant which supports workforce development services to eligible justice-involved participants prior to release from state correctional facilities and county jails, and continue comprehensive services after release. This will be achieved by providing for reentry services to begin while participants are still incarcerated and to continue post-release; with the goal to eliminate the time-gap between release and enrollment into a reentry program leading to employment. Moreover, this initiative will serve adults, aged 18 or older, who have been convicted under federal, state, or local law, and are incarcerated in state correctional facilities or jails with scheduled release dates within 20 to 180 days of enrollment into the project. The total budget for Arapahoe/Douglas Works! is $722,057.14 to serve at least 171 participants. Discussion: If this Agreement is authorized, Arapahoe/Douglas Works! will operate the Pathway Home Program as part of a regional collaborative, which includes the Pikes Peak Workforce Center, the Denver County Workforce Center, and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
Fiscal Impact: Authorization of this Agreement will enhance the Counties’ economic environment by ensuring access to diversely funded workforce programming to a targeted population.
Alternatives: If this Agreement is not authorized, Arapahoe/Douglas Works! will not be able to diversify funding sources, thereby limiting service delivery to the community.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☐Be fiscally sustainable
☐Provide essential and mandated service
☐Be community focused
Staff Recommendation: N/A
Concurrence: This Agreement is supported by Arapahoe/Douglas Works!, the Pikes Peak Workforce Center, the Denver County Workforce Center, and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Approved By: Patrick Hernandez, Director, Human Resources, Kelly Folks, Division Manager, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!, Nicole Russ, Division Manager, Finance & Administrative Services, Tiffanie Bleau, Assistant County Attorney