IMPACT CASE STUDIES

Partnering with AWS to improve employment outcomes for incarcerated learners

Challenge

Incarcerated individuals struggle to get the training and skills that will lead to high-quality employment once they are released and empower them to successfully navigate the challenges of reentry. When these individuals receive quality employment, they are 36% less likely to recidivate within three years of release.1 While AWS is committed to investing significant resources to provide free cloud computing training to justice-impacted individuals throughout the country,2 it requires deep partnerships to deploy the certification classes across jurisdictions.

Solution

APDS partnered with AWS to provide access to the cloud skills training and cloud certification exam preparation material through the tablets they’ve deployed across 21 jurisdictions. In addition to program access, incarcerated learners were supported with job-readiness training and online mock interviews.

Testimonials

“I’d never done anything with a computer besides video games, typing papers in college and downloading music on an iPad…. Receiving the AWS Cloud Certification means the most to me because it will open a new chapter in life that I would never have thought was possible.”

Results

85% 20

Of participants who passed and received their AWS Cloud Certification States identified for expansion of AWS certification program