Offers SNAP recipients opportunities to gain skills, training, or experience, reducing dependency on public assistance. Referrals are accepted from any source, with short-term training geared towards rapid employment.
Jailhouse Cafe
The Jail House Café is an innovative transitional employment training program, which targest low-income individuals reentering the community from incarceration. The Jail House Café offers individuals just coming home from prison the ongoing support necessary to build career capital and financial stability. The program offers assistance for the target individuals to gain the necessary skills and traits to gain and maintain employment within the career pathways of the Restaurant and/or Hospitality industry, as well as address barriers that can affect them during the process of gaining or maintaining employment with additional Community Partnerships wrap-around services.
Outcomes
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Goal #1
Provide skills and traits for individuals to gain employment in the restaurant or hospitality industry during the Jail House Café's 12-week training program. The program includes 240 hours of hands-on training (20 hours per week) and classroom training. Participants will train for 30-40 hours per week, combining both practical and classroom experience.
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Goal #2
Participants will have the chance to earn ServSafe certification through the program's educational component. This certification is essential for advancement in the restaurant industry, particularly for becoming a manager or assistant manager in Cape Girardeau County. Completing the ServSafe course and passing the exam can help individuals move beyond entry-level positions and grow in their careers.
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Goal #3
Within the classroom training citizens will learn how to take steps toward gaining employment, which includes how to properly create cover letters, resumes, complete job application, address sensitive subjects and employment history gaps, proper communication for interviews, which would include verbally and non-verbally communication skills.
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Goal #4
Citizens will be linked with an Employment Specialist that will be working toward helping them gain employment within the industry once finishing the 12-week program.
LEAP
The LEAP (Learning, Employment, and Advancement Program) is a CPSEMO initiative funded by a Department of Justice grant. It serves individuals preparing to transition from jail or prison, providing them with job training, life skills, and personalized support to ease their reentry into society. The program’s goal is to address the barriers faced during this transition, helping participants build confidence, secure employment, and achieve long-term success. LEAP’s mission is to empower individuals with the tools and resources needed to rebuild their lives, while its vision is to create a stronger, more inclusive community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
