Community Re-Entry and Employment Services

Helping businesses with their human resource needs…Helping the formerly incarcerated, homeless, handicapped and unemployed with their employment and supportive service needs

The Community Re-Entry and Employment Services Program (CRESP) at Westside Health Authority assists Chicago businesses with their human resource needs including training, applicant pre-screening, job placement, continual client support following placement and linkage to employer incentive programs. WHA actively participates in a number of business associations and chambers of commerce to foster close relationships with its business partners.

The CRESP also helps the formerly incarcerated residents of Chicago successfully reintegrate back into their community by offering a family-like environment that provides assistance with the supportive service, training and employment needs of its clients. These services are also offered to veterans, handicapped, homeless and unemployed residents of Chicago.

Westside Health Authority is a member of and directs the activities of the Community Support Advisory Council-West (CSAC-West), a collaboration of agencies on the west side of Chicago who work together to provide for the needs of the formerly incarcerated. This network of partner agencies provides a comprehensive scope of services which augments the direct services provided by WHA.

On-Site Re-Entry Services

• Computer Classes and Lab
• Customized Case Management
• Emergency Food, Clothing, and Transportation Assistance
• Distribution of Hygiene Kits
• Doctor Office Visits
• Financial Literacy
• Haircuts
• Intake Analysis and Assessment
• Overcomer Support Group/Mentoring Meetings
• Voicemail Boxes

On-Site Employment Services

• Businesses
1. Assist with Human Resource Needs
2. Provide Pre-screened Qualified Candidates for open jobs
3. Provide linkage to Employment Incentive Programs Including Subsidies for Bonding Insurance; Business Incentive Hiring Programs; Work Opportunity Tax Credits; TIF/TIP and Transitional Job Subsidies
• Job Seekers
  1. Job Placement
  2. Readiness Training
  3. Support Services
  4. Voicemail Boxes
  5. Cook County Works WIA Training and Employment Program
     

Supportive Services through CSAC Partnership

• Career Training
• Counseling
• English As Second Language (ESL)
• Family Reunification
• Food Pantry
• General Equivalence Diploma (GED)
• Healthcare (including vision and dental)
• Housing
• Identification (ID) Replacement
• Legal Assistance
• Substance Abuse Treatment

Accomplishments

• Employment and supportive services provided for over 5,000 clients in 2010
• 1,526 job placements in 2010
• 1,411 businesses who have hired WHA clients since 2007
• Over 40 collaborative partners who participate in the CSAC agency network

Contact Information