The SIUC Employability Development Program
Southern Illinois Adult Transition Center coordinates with SIUC Rehabilitation Institute to provide employability development services to resident of the center. The SIUC Employability Development Program provides comprehensive services to the offenders. This is accomplished with the reintegration process that includes intake and assessment, counseling and development, placement, retention and transition plan service.
The Employability Development Program helps residents with various community service networks. These networks are established to assist in the reduction of dependency by achieving economic self-support and maintaining self-sufficiency. These linkages include, but are not limited to, the Illinois Employment and Training Centers, local educational agency providers, public health departments, the Social Security Administration and the Office of Rehabilitation Services.
Seventy-one resident inmates, 66 percent of the population, participated in the GED/ABE services provided in cooperation with the local educational agency for adult education. These services are coordinated with the SIUC Employability Development Program. The Carbondale High School Ð Operation Rebound provided books, materials, teachers and tutors for the resident inmates of SIATC.
Resident inmates are required to maintain 35 hours per week of programming. Resident inmates are expected to regularly attend work, school or volunteer community service activities. This requirement must be met and maintained as they progress through the level system. The Employability Development Program works closely with SIATC staff to ensure that residents meet program requirement. The employment rate for SIATC residents is consistently greater than 90 percent. The intent is to maximize reintegration and transition into full community life by providing as many normal interactions within the community as possible.
Being employed allows integration back into society and enables inmates to provide support payments to their families, to be responsible for their own medical bills and to pay any outstanding debts.
Susan Burke: Coordinator and Instructor
For more info go to: http://www.idoc.state.il.us/subsections/facilities/information.asp?instchoice=sil