Program to benefit veterans in prison gets funding boost

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) announced this week that the state has been awarded a $2.4 million U.S. Department of Labor grant to support the new Michigan Incarcerated Veterans’ In-Reach Program (MIVIP).

This initiative will provide pre-release education, employment assistance and career guidance to incarcerated veterans at seven correctional facilities in Michigan.

“The Michigan Incarcerated Veterans’ In-Reach Program builds on our ongoing efforts to support our veterans with opportunities to succeed,” said Whitmer. “The MIVIP program offers incarcerated veterans with job training so they can reenter society with a stable career, and it helps small businesses across Michigan meet their talent needs.

“This program will build on our economic momentum and aligns with the recent investments in the bipartisan budget I signed to improve staffing and enhance facilities in the Michigan Department of Corrections.”

MIVIP will be led by LEO’s Veterans’ Employment Services team in partnership with the Michigan Department of Corrections and the Michigan Works! network.

In addition to the in-reach employment services, veterans will receive post-release wrap-around services to help ensure each participant’s success and reduce recidivism.

“One of the primary goals of the Michigan Incarcerated Veterans’ In-Reach Program is to help incarcerated veterans understand how their military experiences can bring value to the civilian workplace,” said Stephanie Beckhorn, director of LEO’s Office of Employment and Training. “While serving in the military, many of these veterans acquired certifications or licenses, as well as marketable skills such as teamwork, problem solving, adaptability and effective communication – skills and qualities employers find desirable.

“Through MIVIP, veterans will learn how to leverage their military experience to help them successfully transition into civilian life.”

MIVIP has been designed to complement the established programs of each correctional facility which include basic adult education, GED certificate, violence prevention, substance abuse and counseling to address underlying mental health issues.

The program builds on those services to provide intensive employment-readiness training.

“This is an exciting and important addition to the host of services we provide to those under our supervision who will soon be returning to the community, especially for incarcerated veterans,” said Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington. “This will help further set them on a path to success, enable them to more easily transition back into society, find employment and help reduce the recidivism rate even further.”

MIVIP services will be provided to veterans at the following correctional facilities: Carson City, Cooper Street (Jackson), G. Robert Cotton (Jackson), Women’s Huron Valley (Pittsfield Township), Parnall (Jackson), Saginaw and St. Louis.

The $2,444,599 in funding to support MIVIP was provided through a Pathway Home 3 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.