San Antonio, Texas and the surrounding areas of Texas...has a agency that will assist those who have a criminal background history to obtain or maintain employment.

The agency will provide vocational training if the clients have a disability such as: mental, physical or a learning disability all of which must be documented by a medical professional or a license counselor (MSW). School records must indicate that the client was placed in special educational classes.

This service then can assist the client to obtain or maintain whatever type of employment that allows then to be gainfully employed with their documented disability. (THESE SERVICES OR AT NO COST TO THE CLIENT / AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A DOCUMENTED DISABILITY).

Any questions may be emailed directly to: mintersenterprise@yahoo.com or you may call 1-800-590-0404 or 210-590-0400. The fax number is: 210-590-0409.

This is true for all "WorkForce Centers" (Ark), the draw back here is "disiability". As being :labeled a ex-felon is not a disiability.
And they will not fall under the Dislocated Worker Program, or will they.

The Workforce Center IN New York will do the same and not just for disabled workers,or veterans....

South Florida Workforce has different agencies that will work with ex-offenders, veterans, disabled adults and youth (17 to 21), dislocated workers, youth and welfare participants by helping them to obtain employability skills and/or vocational training.

Interesting poll...but I don't think anyone can choose just one. Every employer would answer differently...

I agree. I believe it is a combination of several reasons.

Where I work, we have hired ex-offenders and the only problem we had was that most of them were in for drug offenses and they went back to using, which in turn, they stopped coming to work regurlarily. This is one of the few companies that does not put all their consideration on a person's background. It is a small company and the owner is very open minded and feels that everyone should be given a second chance. I was told a story by a friend of mine recently that Walmart hired someone who had been convicted of shoplifting from Walmart and put on probation. They asked a few questions but because the person was honest, they let them continue working and they are now a manager. What upsets me the most is that many times ex-offenders can not get licenses for certain jobs even though they have completed the schooling (accountants, medical personnel ie. nurses, pharmacists, etc).:mad:

Although I'm not an "ex-felon", I am currently in Vocational Rehab in NJ. They have been wonderful to me. I wanted to let yall know that the "mental" includes depression. The way I got involved was at an unemployment orientation we were told " ... if you have a disability - even depression - go next door to "vocational rehab" for training help ...". Take care.