01.29.2024 CSTB Press Release – CareerSource Tampa Bay and Abe Brown Ministries, Inc. Announce CARE (Career Advancement and Reintegration Education)
- Date 1/29/2024
- Media Contact CarlaOrtiz
- e-mail [email protected]
CareerSource Tampa Bay and Abe Brown Ministries, Inc. Announce CARE (Career Advancement and Reintegration Education)
~A program for individuals from out of the Criminal Justice system ~
TAMPA, FL – CareerSource Tampa Bay (CSTB) is excited to announce a new partnership with Abe Brown Ministries, Inc. to implement the CARE program. The program will provide operation and support services for the delivery of workforce training and placement services to Hillsborough County Justice involved/returning citizens to develop a pipeline of talent with fundamental employability and aptitude to obtain employment.
Thousands of people return to Hillsborough County every year after serving time in prison or jail. They face many challenges and barriers to reintegrate into society and lead productive lives. They need support, guidance, and opportunities to overcome their past and build a better future. With the help of Hillsborough County, CareerSource Tampa Bay has launched this new initiative to help ex-offenders re-enter the community and access the resources they need to succeed through the CARE Program.
Abe Brown Ministries currently offers the InspHire program, a comprehensive re-entry program designed to embolden and develop, both professional and personally, citizens with lived incarceration, assisting them in securing gainful employment to achieve self-sufficiency. By partnering with Abe Brown Ministries, the CARE program will be able to offer and expand the current offerings of:
- Hart Bus Pass
- Supportive Services
- Lunch
- Employability Skills & Vocational Training
- Assistance with GED Preparation & Testing
- Family reunification assistance
- Employment Placement Assistance
- Referrals to Wrap-Around Programs
- Professional Clothing Provided for job interviews
- Clothing/employment equipment
“We are thrilled to launch CARE in partnership with Abe Brown Ministries’ InspHire program, a leading provider of reentry services in the community. We aim to empower participants with the skills, resources, and support needed to achieve their career goals and reintegrate into society. Everyone deserves a second chance and a bright future, and CareerSource Tampa Bay is honored to be part of this transformative initiative.” April Torregiante, Vice President of Program Services.
Robert Blount, President and CEO of Abe Brown Ministries and Director of the InspHire comprehensive reentry program, states, “Ready or not, people are released to our community after serving years in carceral settings. Would you rather these persons lean to their understanding during their transition or be engaged with professionals who can provide needed services? The CARE collaboration provides local investment that strengthens our ability as a community to provide interventions that stabilize the lives of returning citizens so that they can focus on sobriety, good health, training, employment, personal growth, and self-sufficiency.”
Learn more about the program by visiting https://careersourcetampabay.com/care-re-entry-program/.
If further assistance is needed, please contact Cynthia Diaz, the Special Grants Program Coordinator, at (813)-930-7158.
About CareerSource Tampa Bay
Programs and initiatives are sponsored by CareerSource Tampa Bay and the State of Florida, Department of Economic Opportunity, and fully supported by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Agriculture as part of awards totaling $23,321,277.
CareerSource Tampa Bay works with businesses and candidates to leverage their training, retraining, and competitive opportunities in the workforce. CareerSource Tampa Bay provided 173,319 services to 37,054 active Wagner-Peyser individuals during the program year 2019-2020. CareerSource Tampa Bay, with our five career centers, is the single largest source of job candidates in the region, from entry-level to executive-level candidates. We work closely with all Veterans.
Businesses can access CareerSource’s wide range of services, including recruiting, training for new and existing employees, targeted hiring events, and retention support strategies. All resources and services are provided at no cost to both businesses and job candidates. Programs funded through CareerSource Tampa Bay are equal opportunity programs with auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Persons using TTY/TTD equipment use Florida Relay Service 711. A proud partner of the American Job Center network to learn more, visit www.careersourcetampabay.com.
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