Connecting Justice-Involved Jobseekers and Second Chance Employers
Expanding fair chance employment is one of the most effective ways to boost economic mobility for justice-involved individuals and build safer, more prosperous communities.
Our Program
First, some definitions. TWA works with jobseekers who are justice-involved, which refers to anyone who has had interaction with the criminal justice system as a defendant. This term encompasses a broad range of experiences that can include being temporarily incarcerated while awaiting trial, being on probation or parole, and/or being incarcerated or formerly incarcerated in a jail or prison. TWA works with individuals regardless of record.
TWA connects justice-involved individuals with fair-chance employers. Also referred to as second-chance employers, these are businesses and organizations that are willing to look past the person’s record to the talent the jobseeker has to offer. Some fair chance employers can hire people with any criminal background while others must be more selective based on a variety of factors.
While TWA is housed at Saint Louis University, the program’s footprint now expands beyond the St. Louis Area to also incorporate collocated services offered pre-release at five institutions as well as to individuals going home to the metropolitan areas of Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia.
Our Services
- St. Louis Area Semi-Annual Virtual Job Fairs - Twice a year, interested jobseekers prepare with the help of a volunteer job coach and film two-minute video resumes. Participating employers receive customized sets of videos to select candidates with whom they would like to take next steps.
- Jobseeker Coaching and Connecting - Jobseekers work with TWA staff to prepare and search for employment in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia areas. These services can include discussing values and career path; creating a traditional and virtual resume; reviewing interview skills; navigating technology in applications and onboarding; and connecting with supportive services. TWA staff then connect jobseekers with employer partners based on the best fit for both sides!
- Fair Employer Training and Consultation - TWA offers individual consultations as well as group trainings on the how’s and why’s of fair chance employment in each service area in Missouri. Once employers discuss their talent needs and with TWA, they can become an employer partner,
Recidivism rate for participants employed with TWA partners
Job fair employment rate, within two months for jobseekers who follow up with employers
amount employers save per hire (based on *$2,400 (from maximum Work Opportunity Tax Credit) + $746 (in average reduction of turnover costs)
locations across Missouri
