Going to jail isn't ideal. 😐⛓️ Leaving without a solid game plan for what to do next isn't, either. 🫠 Fortunately, Ohio's making moves to help our inmate friends land solid employment! 💼
A new statewide program headed up by AT&T to train inmates for telecommunications tower technician jobs. 🗼 Which is good news, since the nationwide broadband initiative requires a whole lotta help!
Here’s Five Fast Facts on the new program:
- 🦺 Training Day - The new program will train certain screened inmates preparing to finish up their jail time. The course is 250 hours long and will be taken over the course of several weeks.
- 🏃 A Little Head Start - After inmates have completed their training, they'll go through a work release program. Through the program, they'll be able to earn an income and get a head start before they leave incarceration.
- 🪜 Climbing the Ladder - Tower technicians are in high-demand, mainly because of the massive broadband infrastructure projects happening. Salaries for these jobs range from $45,000 to $65,000 a year.
- 💵 Bust Out the Budget - Gov. DeWine’s two-year budget proposal has an ask for additional funds for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections to teach inmates job skills. In 2024, the request is for $46 million. In 2025, it bumps up to $51 million.
- 🤔 Gimme Guidance - Two-thirds of the inmates scheduled to exit the Ohio prison system this year have parole officers that help provide direction and guidance. However, that means a third are left hanging. Officials hope programs like AT&T's will help fill in the gaps.
🔥Bottom line: This new program seems like a win-win for everyone involved. AT&T adds more manpower to their broadband projects and former inmates could snag some pretty sweet gigs. Want to learn more about the pros and cons of second-chance hiring? Check out this article!
Do you know anyone who's benefitted from programs like this one?
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