Middle Tennessee Rural Reentry
Program
Technology Training
Introduction to Manufacturing/Injection Molding
Since 2007, Middle Tennessee Rural Reentry (MTRR) has been fulfilling its mission to reduce recidivism. Headquartered in Winchester, Tennessee, on the grounds of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, MTRR has served around 1,400 different participants and has had programs in Franklin, Coffee, Warren and Grundy Counties. We are familiar with the challenges of providing technology career-based training to incarcerated individuals and preparing them for their return to the community.
The trilogy of problems are the same for each county MTRR has served. Many incarcerated individuals lack the education and workforce skills necessary to succeed in the labor market. They are likewise missing the cognitive skills needed to address the challenges of re-integrating into the community. According to the former Industrial Recruiter of Franklin County, John Payne, “One of the most pressing challenges mentioned by existing industry leaders is the difficulty in finding workers for skilled positions.”
While there are 27 technical colleges in Tennessee, there is a six to twelve month waiting list to enroll in the schools that serve the same rural areas as MTRR. This is a significant obstacle for individuals released from incarceration. In Franklin County, the closest technical school is approximately 50 miles away and transporting participants is cost prohibitive. An established reentry program, such as MTRR, can prepare and train individuals, who have little, to no work history, trade or technology skills. This helps lessen the challenges they face. In order to raise the quality of life for incarcerated participants, it is necessary to provide training at a higher level skill set in order to receive livable wages.
In October 2015, we received one of four grants in the nation from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Second Chance Act Technology-Based Career Training Program to serve incarcerated adults in the Franklin County Jail.
We have partnered with the Tennessee College of Applied to Technology (TCAT), Pulaski to offer 364 hours of Introduction to Manufacturing/Injection Molding training. During this 10 week course participants learn History of Manufacturing, Safety, Molding Fundamentals and Math, Materials Handling, Tooling, Blueprint Reading and Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerances, Processing Parameters & Documentation, Mold Setting, Part Removal, Electric Machines, 1st Stage Injection, Scientific Troubleshooting, 2nd Stage Packing, Process Optimization, Machine Maintenance, Mold & Machine Skills and Part Design. The class is part online learning and part hands-on.
In addition, other services provided to the participants include, but are not limited to, Risk and Needs Assessments, Vocational Evaluation, Job Readiness training, Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), Parenting classes, Career Coaching and job placement assistance in a technology related field.
The participants earn a TCAT Certificate and learn a skill set that is in high demand by local industries, such as, Baxter, Diversatech, Tepro and Zanini.
This grant ended in December 2018. We are working on funding to continue this much needed training.