By ART NADLER

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years, no one has to explain to someone who has a job that if they lose it, finding another one -- any job -- in this current economy would be nothing short of trying to win the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes. And that's even if you agree to buy a couple dozen of their magazines for the next five years.

Now how would you like to go up against those odds if you're an ex-felon?

It's tough finding a job right now, even if you have a clean record and tons of experience. And that's why the Nevada Department of Corrections and several nonprofit organizations in Southern Nevada have stepped up to the plate to help shoulder those who have gone astray of the law to become dutifully employed individuals again.

The department's Casa Grande Transitional Center, 3955 W. Russell Road in Las Vegas, opened its doors in December 2005 to house nonviolent, non-sex-crime inmates and parolees on their way to becoming mainstreamed back into society. The center is the focal point of job training for ex-felons.

Workforce Connections, a Department of Labor workforce investment board, currently offers a six-hour-day, four-week program to help ex-felons learn the necessary skills to find employment. According to Jeannie Kuennen, program coordinator, it has placed 71 individuals in jobs since last December with 41 currently on a waiting list.

"We have employers who are willing to give them a chance, but they have to adhere to a certain level of trust with us before we will help them," said Kuennen of the ex-felons. "There is no time limit to find them employment once they enter our program. We saw the need because there are specific barriers for ex-felons."

Most of the jobs have been labor based in warehousing facilities, trade convention setups, food-and-beverage support staff, automotive technician assistants and customer service call center associates and retail store cashiers.

As incentives to hiring former felons, employers are told they can earn tax credit -- up to $2,400 on individuals under certain federal guidelines -- and up to 50 to 90 percent of the ex-felon's wages subsidized, depending on the employer's total employee base.

Shawonda Nance, a job developer at Workforce Connections, emphasizes to employers she meets that former felons in the program have been screened thoroughly before being sent out on a interview. This alone will save an employer time and money in doing background checks.

"They (the former inmates) have gone through the necessary training. We didn't seek them out," Nance tells potential employers. "They have completed 120 hours of cognitive training and job readiness instructions. They are dedicated and doing everything they can to make sure they will be successful.

"They're conquering a lot of fears and ready to make a change."

Nance said Workforce Connections is currently working with some nine employers and is always looking for more companies to join the program. The most recent employer who signed up hired more than 10 ex-felons.

Within a few weeks, Workforce Connections is planning to move into an office outside the Casa Grande Transitional Center to expand the program to help parolees and any citizens with felonies going back several years who are having difficulty finding work.

Job seekers will learn job readiness skills such as how to answer interview questions, proper appearance when going out on interviews and once they get a job, and advice on how to make sure they keep it.

Nance pointed out that there are a lot individuals with gross misdemeanor offenses in detention facilities throughout Southern Nevada, and Clark County is releasing on average 6,000 people a year back into the community. They need proper job-skills training and commitments from employers to help them assimilate back into society as productive individuals, she emphasized.

Michael Simmons, a sociologist who conducts the four-week training program at Workforce Connection, emphasizes to his students that first impression is the most important aspect of landing a job.

"We recommend that they (the men) wear a white shirt, tie, dress slacks, get a nice haircut and be clean shaven," Simmons said. "Most people who want a change in their life and want to be given a chance are very open to doing these things."

Simmons explained that he immediately addresses hurdles his students will face once they re-enter the job market. He works on helping to build up their self-esteem and learning motivation techniques in how to deal with rejection.

"They need to identify what is keeping their self-esteem down," Simmons said. "Another hurdle is that the unemployment is so high in Nevada, and we need to address that by building up their confidence. What helps is when people (in the program) do get jobs and do well, it helps with the others' self-confidence."

Simmons first class in August helped 26 people find work. His current class is smaller with 12 students, but he feels they are moving ahead for successful completion.

Dan Ward, a training manager with Manpower of Southern Nevada, runs the organization's Workforce Readiness Training Program. Its primary focus is on helping ex-felons develop a positive attitude by learning how to manage their emotions.

"How you handle your emotions and the emotions of others around you is key to your success," Ward said. "We also work on resume building and learning proper job interviewing techniques."

Ward said Manpower works with several nonprofit organizations in Southern Nevada that refer ex-felons to him for training. His courses run from two to four weeks, Monday through Friday. They can either be set up as half-day or full-day classes.

Ward admits the current economy is making it tougher for his students to find jobs because "95 percent of people looking for work aren't ex-felons," he said. Another barrier many former felons face is that they lack the connectivity of a healthy support system of family and friends. That's where Ward tries to fill the gap at Manpower.

"They are great students," Ward said in a voice like a proud father. "We tell them that they had a tough break. While some people put in 160 hours just to get ahead, they're going to have to put in 560 hours. I tell them to seek out a spiritual route or some form of support system."

Ward said that there are some employers who will hire people, whether they are ex-felons or not. He has great respect for employers with this attitude.

"Getting someone in a program and getting them a job is a great way to reduce recidivism," Ward explained. "There is definitely a need for what we do. ... It's really an enjoyable class. The people who came in here paid their dues. It's hard for them to be out of prison and be unemployed."

Dr. Cornell Horn founded WRRP Inc. in 2007. The acronym stands for the Wellness, Redemption and Rehabilitation Program. His organization works to place former felons into good paying jobs that include food and beverage services, janitorial work, warehousing labor and various sales positions. Having worked for a large company in Las Vegas that frequently needed personnel for special events, he quickly realized that ex-felons were more reliable at times than people who didn't have a criminal record.

"These are people who didn't no-show like other people," Cornell said, remembering his previous employee searches as an employer. "Their record was never an issue with me. I just needed people who would show up and do the work."

Cornell also quickly realized in interviewing ex-felons he hired that if they didn't have someone representing them, or assisting them in finding employment, about 80 percent never found work. That's when he realized the need for an organization like WRRP.

"I have over 300 clients in my database, but I've been only able to help about 10 percent," Cornell said in frustration. "I don't have the funds to help more. If an employer is willing to give us a chance, the employee will show up for work and the employer will make money."

Dr. Richard Soule, who works in job development at WRRP, is in constant contact with employers, trying to get them to hire ex-felons. He points out to potential employers that there are many positive reasons to hire former felons: They are being supervised by a state or federal penal system and therefore required to seek work and show up on time; their backgrounds have been extensively documented, which will save employers the expense of doing costly background checks; and ex-felons are very motivated to learn new trades to further their employment skills.

"I go from seeing employers with glassed-over looks to getting a nod to give our people a try," Soule said. "I usually get them an interview and tryout. Our placement rate is around 65 percent with companies."

Soule said usually his students become motivated once they take an online skills survey. This helps them immediately identify their jobs skills and possible areas of employment. They begin having new enthusiasm after taking this test, Soule explained.

Soule said WRRP does 30-, 60- and 90-day follow-up interviews with ex-felons once they are on the job. And job coaching is provided on an ongoing basis throughout their employment.

"When I can go home at night and tell my wife I got someone a job today, that's the greatest feeling," Soule said of why he likes working with former felons. "You feel like you accomplished something really worthwhile that day."

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