Reentry Resources

Reentry Resources for Those with Criminal Histories

"We must not believe the many, who say that only free people ought to be educated, but we should rather believe the philosophers who say that only the educated are free." ~ Epictetus (Greek Philosopher)

From Convictions, to College, to Careers

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Many websites make it appear that if you have drug offenses on your criminal record, you will not be eligible for federal financial aid. This is NOT true. What the authors of these sites fail to note is that your eligibility may be affected if you WERE PREVIOUSLY IN COLLEGE and receiving federal financial aid when you were convicted of a drug offense.

How to Apply to Community College of Philadelphia

Community College of Philadelphia Application

Federal Application for Financial Aid

Info. on Federal Financial Aid for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

Selective Service Website to Register and Check Status

Why Bother Earning a GED or Going to College? The Payoff!

Reentry Resources for Those with Criminal Histories

Excellent Guides and Handbooks

Employment Training Services in Philadelphia

Bureau of Labor Occupational Outlook and Handbook (2010)

Prisoner's Rights Handbook (2009)

Pennsylvania Health and Human Services Resource Guide

Prisoner Reentry Resources (check out embedded useful links too!)

Employment Information Handbook for Ex-offenders (2010)

Nonprofits in Philadelphia Offering Services for Exoffenders

Philadelphia EARN Centers (number to call is at bottom of article)

Philadelphia Free Library (wide range of free classes and programs)

Career Link (JFK Blvd. location - ask for Wallace Custis)

Community Legal Services

Esperanza (Spanish-speakers)

Exit-US

Philadelphia Fight

X-offenders for Community Empowerment

Reconstruction Inc.

Turning the Tide

Philadelphia Prison Society

National Comprehensive Center for Fathers

National Center on Fathers and Families

College Access Center

Ready, Willing, and Able

Pro-Act (for people in recovery)

Mayor's Office of Re-integration Services for Ex-offenders

Department of Behavioral Health

Center for Literacy

National Exhoodus Council

Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation

Philadelphia RISE (City government program for ex-offenders)

Connection Training Services

Philadelphia Fight (Aids education and testing)

Federal Government Sponsored Reentry Programs and Information

US Department of Justice Ex-Offender Resources

Bureau of Prisons Ex-offender Employment Resources

US Department of Labor Information Handbook for Ex-Offenders

US Department of Justice Office for Reentry

Reentry Policy Council

General Information on Reentry Topics

Philadelphia Reentry Resources and Information

Workforce Development

Civil Barriers to Reentry Success (good pdf doc with problem/advocacy)

Psychological Effects of Incarceration / Institutionalization

Model for Establishing a Nonprofit to Work with Exoffenders

Best Practices for Establishing an Exoffender Reentry Program

Weekly Academic Reading Assignments for a Course in Reentry

Employment Resources

Note: When you are not working, you should consider volunteering!

Volunteering gives you opportunities to network with new people, increase your skill set (technical and interpersonal), and it gives you work history to add to your resume.

Many volunteer organizations will also write a "letter of character reference" for individuals who perform well as volunteers. These can go a long way when you interview for your next paying job and you need to establish to the employer that you are not an ex-offender stereotype.

Most importantly, volunteering keeps you busy and out of trouble!

Current Philadelphia Job Training Opportunities

Diversified Community Services (Green Job Training)

Impact Services

Connection Training Services

Job Search Engines and Aggregators

Cover Letters, Resumes, and Interviewing Strategies

Sample Exoffender Resume for a Job in Social Services (youth work)