North Lawndale Employment Network Program Methodologies

With nearly 42,000 people released from Illinois State prisons every year, the need for re-entry services and policy reforms continues. Also, the hiring environment changed dramatically after 9/11, when most employers began conducting background checks for current employees and new hires for positions that never before required a "clean" record.This manual is intended for several audiences:New NLEN staff members who need to better understand the philosophies, culture, and services of NLEN Practitioners in similar neighborhoods who can learn from NLEN's approach to serving low-income and formerly incarcerated individuals to better serve their own clientsFunders and policymakers who are interested in a detailed explanation of the challenges faced by this population and NLEN's methodology for how best to address those challenges