READI Chicago Program Named a Mutual of America 2018 Community Partnership Award Winner
Chicago-Based Program Focuses on Addressing the Root Causes of Gun Violence in City's Hardest-Hit Neighborhoods.
NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mutual of America announced today that READI Chicago was named a Merit Finalist award recipient of its 2018 Community Partnership Award competition.
The program was launched in 2017 by Heartland Alliance, a Chicago-based organization dedicated to advancing the human rights of marginalized populations around the world, which formed a partnership with the University of Chicago Crime and Poverty Labs and six other service organizations to address the root causes of gun violence in four of the city's hardest-hit neighborhoods. Their Rapid Employment and Development Initiative (READI Chicago) recognizes that many individuals at a high risk to commit or to be victimized by gun violence lack access to mental-health counseling, life-skills support, and job training and placement.
READI Chicago relentlessly engages these individuals by combining paid employment of up to 29 hours per week with regular participation in individual and group-based cognitive behavioral therapy, coaching and other support services. At the end of 18 months, participants can access an additional six months of case management and coaching to help them successfully transition to unsubsidized employment.
"As of mid-September 2018, 672 individuals are actively participating in the program," said Evelyn Diaz, President of Heartland Alliance. "Of those, 267 have started transitional employment and 70% consistently show up for work. This is notable because many are coping with significant trauma and other issues that can create barriers to long-term success. We believe the results could significantly influence approaches to violence reduction and public safety spending in Chicago and other cities across the country."
About the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award
The Mutual of America Community Partnership Award annually honors the outstanding contributions that nonprofit organizations, in partnership with public, private and other social sector organizations, make to society. Since 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 230 partnerships from cities and towns across America. To watch videos of all of the national award-winning programs, visit the Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award channel on YouTube.
About Mutual of America
Mutual of America has specialized in providing retirement products and related services to organizations and their employees, as well as individuals, for over 70 years. As a mutual company, we do not have stockholders and are not publicly traded. We operate solely for the benefit of our customers, managing the Company for their long-term interest, rather than for the short-term demands of stockholders.
Mutual of America is a leading provider of retirement products, offering personalized service at a competitive price to help plan participants and individuals build and preserve assets for a financially secure future. Integrity, prudence, and reliability are the values that have guided us since our inception and that continue to serve us well. For more information, please visit us at mutualofamerica.com.
SOURCE Mutual of America
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