Stay-at-Home Parents Returning to Work

Many stay-at-home parents are now seeking paid employment for both the money and the health care coverage. This is particularly true if their partner has lost their job and their savings are dwindling. The numbers aren’t clear, but the trend is. According to Forbes.com, career coaches have noticed a jump in the number of parents returning to work over the past 6 to 8 months. Kathryn Sollmann of Women@Work Network is “hearing from quite a few women who say they’re being forced back into the workforce earlier than they intended.”

• workingmothers.suite101.com
• forbes.com/2009/05/19/relaunch-career-woman-leadership-careers-jobs.html

Contributed by Elisabeth H. Sanders-Park, CWDP, JCTC

Employment Solutions Emerge to Assist the Growing Number of Americans With Criminal Offenses

Currently, 1 in 10 Americans has a criminal offense that must be addressed when seeking work. Because of economic conditions that mean employers can be extremely selective in their hiring processes, ex-offenders are having a more difficult time then ever before when trying to secure employment. However, as the economy recovers, American companies, job seekers, workforce development specialists, and others will be forced to create new solutions that re-engage these individuals and their talents in the workforce. Emerging initiatives include advanced technical training to enhance the attractiveness and competitiveness of ex-offender candidates, networks of professional job developers working specifically to create new market opportunities for ex-offenders, and financial incentives to companies that hire ex-offenders.

• bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov
• www.Crimeinamerica.net
• www.bayareacriminaldefense.blogspot.com/2009/01/major-cities-moving-toward-banning-box.html

Contributed by Elisabeth H. Sanders-Park, CWDP, JCTC