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WILKES-BARRE &mdash; PA CareerLink&#174; in Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties recently launched a new initiative to help justice-involved young adults, ages 18-24, to overcome barriers to employment and avoid recidivism.
				REAL &mdash; Reconnect, Engage, Advocate and Lead &mdash; is a transition and reentry program that offers a combination of educational opportunities and occupational skills training to participants.
				Underwritten by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, the REAL program is funded through a grant received by the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Development Board, Inc.
				REAL empowers justice-involved young adults by reconnecting them with their community, engaging them in workforce development, advocating for their success, and encouraging them to lead their own path forward.
				To do this, participants in this program receive individualized services designed to offer support and enhance self-sufficiency as they transition into the community and workforce.
				Trina Moss, Deputy Director, Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Development Board, said the goal of the program is not only to assist these young-adults with attaining employment, but also to develop the skills needed to maintain any positive changes they are making &mdash; ultimately hoping to break the cycle of recidivism back into justice-involvement.
				Moss said one distinguishing feature of the Luzerne/ Schuylkill reentry program is a full-time Licensed Social Worker/Family Advocate &mdash; trained in behavioral health and trauma-informed care &mdash; who will provide mentoring, education, and support to help individuals address underlying barriers and make a healthy, positive transition to self-sustaining employment.
				&ldquo;Reentry programs understand the importance of sustainable employment being correlated with lower recidivism rates,&rdquo; Moss said. &ldquo;As such, the Business Services Manager has been working to cultivate relationships in the community with fair chance employers who are willing to look beyond a participant&rsquo;s criminal background, and instead focus on the value of the individual&rsquo;s experience, knowledge, and skills they would be bringing into the workplace.&rdquo;
				PA CareerLink&#174; and the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Development Board, Inc. has recruited a team of trained professionals including a Licensed Family Advocate, Business Services Manager, and two Outreach Coordinators/Career Navigators to lead this initiative.
				As an integrated team, REAL works together to address the various barriers to employment. The program provides training, education, work experience, counseling, peer support, case management, ongoing mentoring, and twelve months of follow up after program exit.
				The REAL Program is building partnerships with Luzerne and Schuylkill County officials, judges, probation and parole, community-based organizations, recovery support services, and fair chance employers to spread the word about the program, seek referrals, and offer gainful employment opportunities to participants. PA CareerLink&#174; is actively recruiting employer partners to provide fair chances to job seekers with a criminal background.
				Justice-involved young adults can contact us directly or be referred by a community partner. To learn more, REAL encourages community members to attend one of our upcoming Virtual Coffee Talks in partnership with local small businesses. REAL Virtual Coffee Talks are held once a month and can be found on the REAL Reentry Program Facebook page.
				About CareerLink
				The Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Development Board and the PA CareerLink&#174; are committed to serving job seekers and employers in Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties.
				At this time, we are following the CDC, State, and Local Guidelines to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19. Our office is currently closed to the public.
				To receive updates for the PA CareerLink&#174; Luzerne County at Wilkes-Barre office, please follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
				For remote assistance, please call 570-453-7053 or email us at info@careerlinkluzerne.org. You can also visit our Virtual Career Resource Center.

New PA CareerLink initiative helps justice-involved young adults