Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Specialist Training

Training Update

National Institute of Correction's Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS) training has been completed for 2007. We appreciate your interest in training and staff development for workforce development professionals working with this diverse population.

We are planning to offer this intense, three-week training again in 2008. The next training will consist of teams and the application process will be in a team format. Teams should consist of five to six individuals from the same geographic location, worksite, or agency who each meet the requirements for the Center for Credentialing and Education's Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF), with consideration given to identifying the team leader as the member with the greatest degree of education and experience. To review credentialing requirements, please visit the CCE website at http://www.cce-global.org/credentials-offered/filter/gcdfus. Please check this webpage for updated information regarding the 2008 training. If you have questions regarding this information, please direct them to: DRC.BQCP@odrc.state.oh.us

We will continue to offer one-day community workshops at the request of community partners and agencies. If you are interested in coordinating a workshop on topics related to Offender Workforce Development, please contact us at DRC.BQCP@odrc.state.oh.us"

[Back to top]

Training Overview

Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS) Partnership Training is fundamental to a comprehensive reentry initiative that helps communities meet the workforce development needs of its persons with a prior criminal history. This train-the-trainer program includes three essential elements:

• Promotes collaboration between criminal justice agencies and a broad array of governmental agencies and community organizations.
• Provides multidisciplinary teams of trainees with a set of competency-based skills that meet the requirements of Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF), an internationally recognized certification.
• Requires participants to build their local capacity to provide services for this population

[Back to top]

Program Description

The objectives of the OWDS Partnership Training are to:

• Provide participants with the knowledge and skills required to deliver effective workforce development services
• Promote collaborations that will result in increased positive employment outcomes
• Assist participants with developing a plan for delivering OWDS training in their communities.
• Prepares trainees to be instructors of the OWDS information and curriculum

[Back to top]

Who should attend:

Participants from a variety of settings, including but not limited to state and local jails; prisons; correctional industries; probation and parole agencies; pretrial services; residential reentry centers; one-stop centers; veterans’ services; faith-based and community organizations; and colleges and universities are encouraged to apply.

Pre-read material will be forwarded to the participants upon formal acceptance to the training. A training manual is provided to participants on the first day of training. Selected individuals are then prepared to utilize the training to advance the state of services for individuals with a criminal history in their communities.

Trainees receive intensive, competency-based instruction that includes approximately 180 hours of classroom training, e-learning modules, and practicum experience. The classroom training is delivered in three sessions, with approximately 4-5 weeks between sessions to allow participants time to return home and attend to critical job responsibilities. Participants must complete practicum assignments during the intervals between classroom instruction. These assignments include a variety of activities that are evaluated by OWDS Instructors. In addition, when the individual successfully completes the OWDS Partnership Training, qualified participants will be eligible to participate in OWDS Instructor Training from an OWDS Master Trainer.

Because participants must invest a considerable amount of time and effort in the program, the primary sponsoring agency is encouraged to carefully consider the requirements and dedication required to complete the training.

[Back to top]

Additional Program Benefits

NCDA has endorsed the OWDS Partnership Training Program. Participants who complete the program meet all training requirements for GCDF certification from the Center for Credentialing and Education, Inc. (CCE). All trainees are strongly encouraged to apply for certification. To qualify for OWDS Instructor training, participants must receive certification.

[Back to top]