Fantastic Works!

N. M. enrolled in the Parolee Employment Placement Program (PEPP) on 6/20/2014

***BMI assessed and enrolled N.M. into the PEPP program on June 20, 2014.  He had good skills and was eager to work, but was having a hard time finding stable employment because of his felony charge. We were able to secure a position for him at a logistic and distribution warehouse located in Carteret, NJ as an order selector making a starting salary of $9 per hour.  After working 2 months, N.M. received an increase in wages to $11 per hour.  The experience and training he received from that position qualified him for a position at another logistic and distribution warehouse located in Keasby, NJ.  After starting in his new position in November 2014, he was accepted into the Union and is making $13 per hour. He is still currently employed.

S.S. enrolled in PEPP 12/17/2013

***BMI assessed and enrolled S. S. on December 17, 2013. She had average skills and was recently laid off from a transitional job with a New Jersey parks department.  BMI found her employment as a Packer at a logistic and distribution center making $8.75 per hour.  S.S. proved to be a hard worker and proved to be reliable.  She maintained her job as a Packer for more than 90 days, which exceeded the 90 days employment milestone required by the PEPP grant.  In November 2014, BMI found her a better job making more money and with more responsibilities. Her current job is at an online distribution center where she started as an Order Checker making $10 per hour. She has recently been promoted to an Onsite Coordinator and received a pay increase to $11 per hour. She is still currently employed.

    • v 2009 – BMI expands to New Jersey from New York to provide employment services to former offenders and individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders. As the lead agency; funded by The Nicholson Foundation, BMI placed 50 participants into competitive employment with an average 90-day retention rate exceeding 80%.
    • v 2010 – BMI participates in the Newark Prisoner Reentry Initiative (NPRI) funded by The Nicholson Foundation to transition 130 former offenders who reside in Newark, New Jersey. Under the parameters of our performance-based model, 78% retained employment for 180 days, which exceeded the benchmark goal of 70%.
    • v 2011 – The Nicholson Foundation awards BMI a performance based contract to work with Drug Court, Intensive Supervision Program (ISP), Parolees and Federal Probation: BMI was contracted to serve 80 participants transition into employment. All 80 were placed and 82% retained employment for 180 days.
    • v 2012 – Current The New Jersey State Parole Board (SPB), under the management of The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL) awards BMI a contract to assist parolees in Essex and UnionCounties for the Parolee Employment Placement Program (PEPP) find and maintain meaningful work. For contract year one, our performance outcomes were at least 90% for each benchmark (30, 60, and 90 day retention).
    • v 2014 – Current  SPB, under the management of DOL awards BMI a contract to assist parolees in Middlesex County for the PEPP project.

Average wages of our participants exceed $9.00 per hour
Recidivism rate to incarceration for the first year PEPP contract was 1%

“Thank you for helping me find my job at Bertrum Foods. This is a good program.”

O. Ortiz, BMI participant

“I am grateful for this program, it’s the only one program that helped me find work.”

S. Ford, BMI participant

We had great results from the PEPP program, you really helped a lot of my guys find work”.

Mrs. W., Parole Officer