Safer Foundation

BASIC SKILLS/EDUCATION IN ILLINOIS AND IOWA - focuses on improving literacy for teenage youth and adults who have an arrest or criminal history, or are deemed at risk of justice system involvement, which can pose significant barriers to self-sufficiency. Safer aims to strengthen participants' skills in reading, math, and writing, which supports access to higher-wage employment opportunities. Long-term, Safer supports participants in earning their High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) and/or transitioning into postsecondary education or credential-based training programs. Educational services are delivered through direct instruction, tutoring, and digital learning platforms. To support learning and credentialing success, Safer offers remote learning options and serves as a Pearson VUE examination center for HSED testing. In Eastern Iowa, Safer operates as a satellite site of Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, which administers official HSED testing and state examinations for participants in that region. These services are made possible through collaborative efforts with key stakeholders and funders, including WIOA Titles I-IV, Local Workforce Innovation Boards (LWIBs), the U.S. Department of Justice, Cook County Department of Corrections (CCDOC), Illinois Departments of Corrections, the State of Iowa, as well as various municipalities, community foundations, and other community-based partners.

Wellness and counseling supportive reentry

The supportive reentry network collaborative is an integrative reentry model offering access to individuals returning home from incarceration to address the health-related social needs. Services provided include mental health, substance use, public benefit assistance, housing, and other services (242), employment assistance (included) assistance obtaining state ids, social security cards, resume writing, job referrals, clothing needs(306), and transportation supports) (572) and job starts (194).