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TECHHIRE:  MORE SKILLS, MORE MARKETABILITY

Overview

The UMOS TechHire Program provides technology training based on employers’ needs.

The program provides accelerated training, hands-on experience in web and software application development, web development, help desk analyst, Microsoft Office  Specialist, CNC, AutoCAD and more.

For employers, benefits include screening, recruitment and training, pipeline to potential employees, paid internships, coaching and support.

For program participants, benefits include a flexible learning environment, free classroom based and virtual training options, hundreds of industry standard technology certifications, enhanced portfolio for more marketability, as well as direct connection to potential employers.

Re-entry Program
Knowing the ABC’s of CNC..Before Release

The UMOS Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) program is accelerated coursework that provides technical skill development in blueprint reading, metrology, introduction to CNC programming, manual vertical milling and CNC Vertical machining…..before an inmate is released. The 14-credit course leads to a technical diploma in CNC vertical  machining.

The course is open to anyone between the ages of 17-29. However, UMOS has formed a creative partnership with the House of Corrections to provide re-entry training to inmates before they are released. This gives ex-offenders a better chance of finding family supporting employment sooner when they return to their communities.

• What exactly is CNC training and how long does it last?
  • Computerized numerical Control (CNC) accelerated coursework provide technical skill development in blueprint reading, metrology, introduction to CNC programming, manual vertical milling and CNC Vertical machining.  The 14-credit course offering leads to a technical diploma in CNC Vertical machining Certificate.
  • Training runs 4 months,  Mon – Friday,  eight hours per day.  Upon completion of the courses,  students, if chosen via interview,  are placed with local employers in an eight- week internship.  Students are given the opportunity to shadow potential employers,  tour the employment facilities, and meet with potential employers during class observation visits.
  • Targeted students are inmates who have Huber release privileges. We will be expanding MKE DOC facilities and halfway re-entry homes.  The re-entry board is sending a list of possible places for recruitment.

• What is the structure of the training? (e.g., class time, applied instruction time, OJT/internship time)
  • Class time:  MON- FRI  1:30 pm – 8:00 pm  Nov. 5^th – Feb 27^th   80% shop/20% classroom
  • During training,  employers will be observing students during shop hours of class.  Employers are given the opportunity to visit 2-4x during this phase.
  • On non-school days,  students will be attending “pitch & Tour” days at employers,  where companies will be providing students company details,  why their company is a great place to work,  benefits,  etc.  Students will also be given an opportunity to shadow an employee (2 days)
  • During the last 2 weeks of class,  students are interviewed for internship positions. If offered a position at more than one company,  the student will select the company they would like to intern.
  • During the internship phase,  after the ½ completion point,  student will begin applying for positions.  The goal is to be hired before or at release date. 

• What employers are participating?
  • Trace-A-Matic – Brookfield, WI
  • RTD (Reich Tool & Design) – Menominee Falls, WI
  • Senior Flexonics – Franklin, WI

• How many people are in the first class? How many are corrections inmates? Where do the others come from?
  • 7 are in the first class.  3 inmates,  4 from transition house/on probation/parole/other

• Future strategies being developed?
  • Examining for profit models in order to sustain the program,  also longer term goal is to provide on-site training at House of Corrections (HOC) by acquiring equipment/materials to house at HOC.  MATC can create courses, in which would be financial aid eligible, where students can train as a regular student.

• Challenges
  • 90% of inmates do not have an HS diploma/GED/HSED, which is a requirement of TechHire and college entrance. (HOC indicated this but haven’t seen this data)# who actually have diploma/GED)  The barrier is that MATC has only one instructor at HOC.  There is a need for more instructors to meet the waitlist of over 100 inmates waiting to work on GED.
  • Another challenge is transportation – to and from employer locations.  There isn’t bus lines that serve these particular areas.  We are looking into partners/resources to help with this.
  • Housing will be a big hurdle once released, so we are checking out landlords that are willing to rent to those re-entering.  We recently attended he Re-entry council meeting of Milwaukee (yesterday-WEDS) and we have some leads on transportation as well as housing.  MATC is checking to see what they can do to provide more instructors, so we are prepared for the March cohort of students.

There have been several CNC graduating classes from MATC. Each student has their own unique story. Below are a few.

Brandon Cheng – House of Corrections, release date: March 2019, considered one of the top students, is sought after by a couple of the employer partners. Internship/employment with Trace-A-Matic or RTD. Parents are super proud, and his father is a machinist. His plan is to assist his parents with helping out with his younger siblings, he has five younger siblings. He is the youngest of the CNC participants.

Justin Simpson – House of Corrections – release date January 2019, Justin released early, homeless for a period of time, without transportation or food as well but kept attending class. Other students brought food for him (other inmates saved their HOC lunch and would give it to him at class) during class periods, another student had a relative assist him with a room until he found a landlord that would help him in Feb. He receives bus passes from TechHire, rental assistance and has landed some carpentry/construction work to get by. He will be interning/employment with RTD.

Jerome Fox – House of Corrections, release date, March 2019, considered on of the top students, is sought after by two employer partners. Will be interning and become employed with RTD. Jerome plans to continue with CNC career, as a brother did a similar path. He looks forward to a better life and plans to marry upon his release in the spring.

Kristopher Kolhouse – Marty’s Place, is a transition/re-entry living home for men on the southside. Chris would like to intern/be employed with RTD. His plan is to move back to the southside and assist his elderly mother as he pursues his career in CNC programming.

Travell Quinn – Travell was a referral from a MATC instructor, who was struggling financially to pay for CNC training. Travell completed the coursework and his plan is to go straight into job placement. Travell will work with Goodwill Industries “TalentBridge” program to become employed with CNC employers who are located on the Milwaukee bus lines.

Scott Mathis – Referred by House of Corrections staff, a young man, living on the northside of Milwaukee. Very motivated and interested in a CNC programming career. Scott is looking to intern/work for RTD or Trace-A-Matic to support his young family and build his career. Scott has a one-year old son, Scott, Junior.

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