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WORK EXPERIENCE COMPONENT: TRANSITIONAL JOBS Description of the component. Provide a summary of the activities and services. A-RESET's Transitional Jobs Component through The Foundry facilitates a holistic, trauma-informed workforce development initiative serving individuals with complex barriers to employment, including those in addiction recovery. This component is designed to support participants as they transition from training to sustainable employment, aligning closely with the objectives of the Employment & Training (E&T) program. Following six months of foundational work focused on employment readiness, financial literacy, personal development, and stabilization, participants enter a structured three-month transitional employment phase. During this time, the focus shifts toward active job placement, hands-on work experience, and consistent accountability - supporting long-term recovery, economic independence, and housing/food security. Key Elements Include: - Supportive Job Placement Participants are matched with job opportunities that align with their training, abilities, and recovery needs. The Foundry prioritizes partnerships with employers who understand the unique challenges faced by individuals in recovery and are committed to second-chance hiring. We’ve built strong relationships with a network of second-chance employers who recognize the value our participants bring to the workforce. Thanks to the positive track record of our graduates, many of these employers actively seek out Foundry participants for job opportunities. This network plays a crucial role in helping individuals re-enter the workforce and establish stability. Some of our valued second-chance employment partners include Ashley Mac’s, Avient, ABC Coke, Associated Grocery, American Lumber, Brown Service Manufacturing Co., Buffalo Rock, Coca-Cola, City of Cullman, Cullman County, Dollar General Distribution, Foundry Dental, Landscape Associates, The Bright Star, UAB, Vapor Thrift Store, and Wal-Mart. These partnerships not only open doors for employment but also reinforce the community support that is essential to long-term success and reintegration. - Work-Based Learning and Transitional Employment When appropriate, participants are placed in short-term, subsidized transitional jobs or internships that allow them to re-enter the workforce gradually and build a positive work history. These placements serve as low- risk environments for practicing new skills and reinforce structure and accountability - key components of sustained addiction recovery. - Aftercare Model of Care for Employment Retention Each participant receives individualized support through an Aftercare model that emphasizes ongoing contact, relationship-based support, and early intervention. Staff trained in trauma-informed and recovery-sensitive practices maintain regular check-ins, help address workplace challenges, reinforce life and employment skills, and ensure continued progress toward recovery and employment stability. Topics such as managing workplace stress, maintaining a balanced schedule, and relapse prevention are built into aftercare touchpoints. - Coordinated Supportive Services A-RESET participants continue to receive access to wraparound supports during this phase, including nutrition assistance, transportation, housing referrals, mental health services, and recovery support groups. These services address common relapse triggers such as financial strain, isolation, and unmet basic needs, while promoting SNAP E&T’s goals of long-term employment and reduced public assistance dependency. The Foundry's participation in A-RESET through the Transitional Jobs Component is designed not only to help participants gain employment, but to do so in a way that honors and supports their recovery journey. By providing trauma- and recovery-informed services within an E&T-aligned framework, The Foundry fosters long-term stability, self-reliance, and dignity for individuals overcoming addiction and rebuilding their lives. Skills Training Key Components: • Duration: 6 months • Hours: 20–25 hours per week • Evaluation: Bi-monthly phase evaluations covering 10 core soft skills 1/27/26, 9:44 AM State Plan AL FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-alabamafy26stateplan//index.html 71/192