Justice-Involved Learners for Meaningful Careers
Ready for Industry Equips Justice-Involved Learners for Meaningful Careers
Justice-involved individuals face more obstacles than most when seeking meaningful, sustainable employment. Experience has led many of these learners to believe that success in a traditional sense is not a realistic goal.
The future can be bright, though. With Ready for Industry, a vital component for programs that prepare justice-involved learners for careers, these individuals are equipped with practical career preparation, industry-recognized certifications, and essential employability skills. RFI helps these learners discover career pathways and prepares them for success in the workplace.
RFI Value
In partnerships all over the U.S., Ready for Industry is preparing justice-involved learners with career-ready skills, industryrecognized credentials, and a clear pathway into high demand fields. Participants enrolled in RFI’s self-paced online courses in construction, healthcare, information technology, logistics, and advanced manufacturing gain:
» Practical knowledge of industry terminology, common practices, workplace expectations, issues, and trends
» Essential employability skills, including time management, teamwork, communication, critical thinking, digital literacy, and conflict resolution
» Information about career pathways and opportunities
» The opportunity to earn NOCTI credentials recognized by employers
Ready for Industry has already proven to be the ideal career-integrated learning partner for justice-involved organizations all over the country.
Louisiana Dept. of Public Safety
A shining example of RFI’s power in preparing justice-involved learners for meaningful careers is the partnership with Louisiana’s Departments of Public Safety and Corrections, Probation, and Parole. Collaborating with technology partner ATLO, leaders in secure web-based learning platforms, Ready for Industry deployed curriculum at:
» Parole and Probation centers in Greater New Orleans
» Ouachita Correctional Center
» Rayburn Correctional Center
Carroll Academy
Likewise, in Tennessee’s Carroll Academy, RFI was integrated into the Career Connect program, a collaborative, student-centered program that leverages community partnerships to support career exploration and development. Designed to serve youth facing systemic barriers, the RFI-integrated program connects classroom learning to real-world opportunities, creating pathways to stability, purpose, and self-sufficiency.
Says Joseph Butler, Mayor of Carroll County, “These young people have taken a major step forward, proving that with the right support and relevant preparation, meaningful futures are within reach.”
Unlocking Second Chances
In just the first year of the Carroll Academy partnership, 22 justice-involved students were recognized for workforce readiness thanks in large part to the Ready for Industry curriculum. And local industry leader Dewayne’s Quality Metal Coating pledged to hire one of the program graduates, demonstrating real belief in the potential of these learners.
“Through Ready for Industry, we help them discover career paths they never thought possible and watch as they begin to believe in their own potential,” says Rene Sutton, Lead Instructor for the Carroll Academy program.
And on a larger scale, the impact has been felt across the state of Louisiana. To this date:
» More than 100 certificates have been earned at Louisiana’s Rayburn Correctional Center alone
» Louisiana Department of Corrections, so impressed by the program’s impact, is adopting NOCTI across all facilities
» Learners in each facility earn a 20-day time credit upon program completion
» RFI students were given access to a logistics employer to help bridge the gap between career-integrated learning and employment
Investing in the career preparedness of justice-involved individuals enriches communities, supports families, and reduces recidivism. It inspires confidence, opens doors, and smooths out what could be a rough path to success.
Position your program to meet justice-involved learners where they are and build real-world workplace skills proven to boost employability and support successful reentry.
