Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development (PROWD)

The PROWD grants operate over a 42-month period and include three stages of coordinated services: during incarceration in federal prisons, during time spent in residential reentry centers, and after release into the community. The program also includes key elements such as employment labs, consistent job coaching, novel use of technology, peer mentoring, and supportive services. Cross-agency and cross-systems partnerships are also a central element of the program, which includes state workforce agencies, public safety agencies, federal correctional facilities, RRCs, state apprenticeship agencies, state Medicaid programs, state housing agencies, industry organizations and employers, local social service providers, and others as appropriate. The goal of PROWD is to lay the groundwork for launching effective reentry programs serving citizens returning from federal incarceration, with an emphasis on quality jobs.

The initiative is authorized under the First Step Act (FSA) of 2018 and Section 169 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and is funded with approximately $42 million in job skills training and tailored employment plans over FY22 and FY23.

For more information regarding the PROWD program see the fact sheet in Related Content.

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2023
• Posted by: Phyllis Richardson
• Posted in: Reentry Employment Opportunities