Four complete advanced manufacturing, CNC courses
Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
Four justice-involved individuals, who will be returning to their communities, completed training during their incarceration and are available for hire.
The offenders will be returning to Crawford, Greene, Dubois and Lawrence counties. According to the Indiana Department of Correction, the individuals will be available for hire from mid-December through Feb. 10, 2023.
The individuals from Greene, Dubois and Lawrence counties completed the Catapult training program in advanced manufacturing. The Crawford County offender completed training in CNC operator, mill/lathe.
Catapult is a four-week industry-led training program focused on the skills and competencies required for entry-level employment and career growth in advanced manufacturing.
The program combines hands-on training and classroom work to prepare students for today’s advanced manufacturing workforce. Emphasis is placed on students learning manufacturing and efficiency processes, critical thinking and problem solving, workplace culture, teamwork, safety procedures and workplace ethics.
Catapult targets unemployed and underemployed adults as well as high school students. The program is offered around the state at college campuses, training centers and at IDOC facilities.
Conexus Indiana started Catapult, which has been offered at DOC facilities since 2017.
Sherm Johnson, executive director of Offender Employment Development at the IDOC, said the training not only increases the offenders’ employability upon release, it has other benefits.
Johnson said the 2021 IDOC recidivism rate for offenders released in 2018 was 33.2%. That rate is 15 points lower for offenders who completed the job training program.
To inquire on these potential workers, contact Johnson at [email protected] or 317-234-2960.