Purpose
The Hard-2-Hire Network aims to improve and coordinate services and opportunities that help adults who have a criminal record prepare for, enter, advance and succeed in the workforce.

Scope
The H2H Network consists of service providers in the urban core of the Greater Cincinnati region (Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, Southeastern Indiana) who offer employment services to adults who have a criminal record. If your organization would like to join the H2H Network, please contact Ross Meyer.

Process
The H2H Network is modeled after Strive’s Student Success Networks, which are groups of service providers who work together to develop common action plans for improving and coordinating service delivery on a systems level—not merely developing a new program. Using the Six Sigma continuous improvement process, the H2H Network will define the problem they will focus on together, align and leverage resources to create action plans, implement the action plans, work on enhancing or creating measurement systems to track their progress, and periodically review the ongoing data collection to make continuous improvements.

Timeframe
Initial meeting in December of 2008; regular meetings begin January 2009 on a bi-weekly basis over a 9-18 month period to go through the action planning and implementation process.

Benefits
Service providers who participate will benefit from the opportunity to collaborate with other providers, coordinate and improve service delivery, develop a shared sense of direction, address gaps in services, and compete for funding on a collaborative basis.

Outcomes

• Capacity Outcomes: increased collaboration among providers, coordinated service delivery, increased capacity of providers, improved effectiveness and efficiency of services.
  
• Workforce Outcomes: increased number of adults with a criminal record who are employed, retained, and advanced in good jobs.