Peer Support Coordination; Reentry

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The Peer Support Coordinator will provide job placement assistance, job coaching and related support to formerly incarcerated UW students and graduates (clients) as they leave prison and reenter communities in Southeast Wisconsin. This position is partially funded by the UW Madison Prison Education Initiative (PEI) and will work with the PEI to identify clients and coordinate service provision. The University of Wisconsin-Madison Prison Education Initiative works with UWs to deliver degree, badge and college preparation programs in prisons across the state, giving incarcerated learners the opportunity to reframe their futures through higher education.

The Peer Support Coordinator will manage cases from pre-release through post-release, helping clients develop and follow through on plans for success. This position will work with our Business Services unit and other parts of Employ Milwaukee to identify appropriate job opportunities and help cultivate additional connections with employers. This position will also offer clients assistance in connecting to social service providers to address housing, transportation, education and other needs for entry into the workforce.

The end goal is to assist clients in achieving stable employment consistent with their professional goals. Clients will be eligible for Peer Support Coordinator support for up to two years after release.

• Manage a caseload of approximately 10-15 clients to track and encourage progress toward stable employment after clients leave prison.
• Engage in pre-release reach-ins with clients who are coming home to communities in Southeast Wisconsin and need help securing employment.
• Identify employment opportunities for clients, in collaboration with other parts of Employ Milwaukee and external partners.
• Perform regular outreach with regional and local community correction officers, centers, and community reentry staff.
• Connect and co-enroll participants in other support services to address housing, food, training and other needs, when eligible, including programs through Food Employment and Training (FSET) and services within the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
• Collaborate with the PEI to support educational assessment and placement, including maintenance of necessary training/certifications from appropriate state agencies and vendors.

• Attend scheduled meetings deemed necessary by the UW-Madison Prison Education Initiative, Employ Milwaukee Manager of Reentry Services, or other Employ Milwaukee administration to include community meetings.
• Identify motivation, strengths, challenges, and risks for the process of placement and/or retention.
• Offer job readiness workshops pertaining to resume development, mock interviewing, attendance, punctuality, appearance, and how to effectively verbalize work skills/values to employers.
• Participate in the assigned organization and stakeholder meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Knowledge of current issues, concepts, and practices related to workforce development and reentry.
• Ability to work in a team environment, while also working independently.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in coordinating program development and relationship management.
• Knowledge of employment barriers facing disadvantaged populations and employer demand for skilled and educated workers.
• Demonstrated capacity to handle multiple tasks, programs and meet deadlines, ability to deal with potential ambiguity.
• Excellent mediation, conflict management, and meeting facilitation skills.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, in group and individual settings, including e‑mail and phone.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive information.
• Must have strong administrative and organizational skills including program management, and grant administration and reporting.
• Ability to interact effectively with those of diverse backgrounds.

• Educ…