Maryland New Directions Wins State Grant to Assist Mostly Female Ex-Offender Community with Employment Skills and Jobs

Baltimore (July 28, 2008) - Maryland New Directions, Inc. (MND), was awarded a four-year contract by the Maryland State Department of Human Resources (DHR), to assist low-income ex-offenders find employment. Each year until 2012, 200 participants who have custody of their children or are seeking custody, will be recruited to receive intensive employment readiness and job retention services. MND has created an innovative program of skills training, life management skills, individual career counseling and assessment and mentoring services to help these job seekers overcome the hurdles to success generally experienced by ex-offenders in the workplace. It is anticipated that most of the participants are women with no other means of support, responsible for children under the age of 18. 
Grace Lee, Executive Director of MND recently explained, "Since we have a history of serving women and female ex-offenders, we are proud that the state has chosen us and recognized our unique ability to help this group create greater stability for their children through improved economic opportunity."
 
"We are confident that Maryland New Directions can make a difference for a population of women with serious barriers to sustainable employment,â€� said Johnny Rice, Director of the Office of Grants Management at the Department of Human Resources.  “MND’s proven record of success with helping women overcome obstacles to supporting their families was a factor in this award,â€� Rice continued.  “We look forward to working with them to help effect positive changes in the lives of program participants.â€�  
The nonprofit's Second Chance program has helped 434 female ex-offenders find and retain jobs in Baltimore since 2001. This contract marks the first time the state has funded such an initiative for solely custodial parents. One of the first programs of its kind in the country, Second Chance was created to help ex-offenders stay out of prison for good. To participate in this program, job seekers must be at least 25, low-income, recently incarcerated, and have custody or be in the process of obtaining custody of their children age 18 and younger. 
Founded as Baltimore New Directions for Women, MND celebrated its 35th anniversary this year. The agency is noted for its ability to help a wide range of clients overcome barriers to successful employment with professional career counseling and life planning skills. Specific programs are geared for displaced homemakers, the unemployed, and dislocated workers.  
Call 410-230-0630 for additional information.