Pathways to Education and Employment for Reentry (PEER)

Promoting Long-Term Success

The Pathways to Education and Employment for Reentry (PEER) program helps people with criminal records in the First Judicial District by offering education and job services.

Most people with a criminal record—95%—return to the community after meeting the district’s requirements. However, many don’t know about the education and job resources available to them. Investing in services for this group of people will help reduce repeat offenses and create a new pipeline of workers for businesses and industries in the Cedar Valley.

The PEER program brings these services to the Black Hawk County Jail, Women’s Center for Change, and Waterloo Residential Facility.

Services Provided

• Career exploration
• Case management
• Educational counseling
• Employability skills
• Hands-on job training
• High school completion
• Hiring events
• Job readiness skills
• Program eligibility
• Resource referrals
• Resume and application assistance
• Wage subsidies

Success Story

Hawkeye has a history of offering job training and support to people involved with the justice system after their release. One student started training at Hawkeye knowing he would have to serve time during the program. Hawkeye worked with him to provide flexible training to help him succeed. He completed the short-term program and got a job earning $23 an hour.