Strategic Partnerships

Guidelines

Partnerships are essential to the success of an education continuum. Reentry education providers must collaborate with correctional facilities, parole and probation officers, social and employment services, and employers. Effective partnership practices include mapping resources to identify potential partners and establishing a formal partnership agreement.

Mapping Partnership Resources

Reentry education providers should conduct an assessment of potential partner organizations that could support the reentry process. Providers also should create a resource map to connect students to support and employment services.

Establishing A Partnership Agreement

Providers should establish a formal partnership agreement or join an existing group to ensure that partners develop:

• Common goals and objectives
• A plan for regular communication
• A process for measuring success

Tools

Resources

• Developing Career Pathways Partnerships Offers recommendations and resources to help providers build partnerships between traditional career pathway partners and the corrections community, identify a target sector or industry and engage employers, and design career education and training programs.
• The Employer-Driven Model and Toolkit Includes four tool kits: Prepare Job Seekers for Employment, Address Employers' Needs and Expectations, Engage and Partner with Stakeholders, and Use Labor Market Information to Target High-Growth Occupations.
• Partnerships Between Community Colleges and Prisons: Providing Workforce Education and Training to Reduce Recidivism Describes the structure, management, funding, benefits, and challenges of college-prison partnerships.
• Strategies to Engage Employers in Hiring People with Criminal Records This tool provides written recommendations to engage employers and provide them the support that they need to hire people with criminal records.