Work and Gain Employment and Education Skills, Department of Corrections
Our WAGEES program offers supportive services and mentoring to adult men and women who are reintegrating into society after incarceration. WAGEES offers a variety of resources across the community to help parolees complete parole successfully and gain the skills necessary to not return to prison. WAGEES staff attends parole orientation at the Denver and Englewood parole offices to meet with potential participants the first week of being released.
Mentorship is a critical aspect of the WAGEES program. Each participant is different and case managers work with them one on one to make sure goals and progress are in line with long-term success.
WAGEES is an incentive-based program, incentives include
- Employment Program: $25.00 gift card once placed in employment/or completion of short-term training program
- Employment Retention: will be given those who retain employment for 90 days. Along with verification from employer and current pay stub participation will then receive a $50.00 incentive.
- Vocational Training: $50 incentive will be awarded to persons who obtain certification and/or complete occupational/vocational training(s) (depending on the length and intensity of training).
Our staff believes that everyone deserves a hand up after incarceration regardless of what they have done or where they have come from. This empathic case management approach comes from the staff’s direct experience with incarceration and/or incarcerated family members. There is a non-judgmental approach to case management and case managers will help identify goals to help participants achieve success.
Services
With the high demand for skills trade, participants are highly recommended to take advantage of training available to them. We will provide resources for free training, ie. STEP and Denver Works, but will also assist with the cost of training for those serious about advancing their skill sets. We encourage all sorts of training from Flaggers, forklift, trades, barber, culinary, CDL. Ect.
Title
Additional Information
Funded by the Latino Coalition for Community Leadership, the program serves all offenders no matter what their charges are. Serving individuals that are currently on parole, living at a halfway house, or are currently discharged. Individuals can enroll into the program up to one year after their release date.
Incentive based program:
- Employment verification: $50
- Vocational training: $75
- Employment retention: $100
Quick Facts
We serve individuals that are released from prisons from all across the state
Testimonials
"The Wagees program has given me a second chance at life and they motivated me to complete the program with numerous outcomes”
Philip G.
"I have been able to find stable employment, found stable housing, and started my Journey-man certification thanks to Servicios de La Raza."