COUN 5279: Week 6 Assignment | Life Planning and Career
Development with Complete Solutions | 2025 Update | 100% Correct
Career Development Program Plan
Kristia Jackson
Capella University
COUN 5279: Life Planning and Career Development
Dr. Rita Smith
February 16, 2025
, 2
Abstract
This career development program aims to support formerly incarcerated individuals in their
reintegration into society by addressing the unique challenges they face in securing stable
employment and financial independence. With approximately 600,000 individuals released from
U.S. state and federal prisons each year and over 4.5 million under community supervision, this
population is diverse in age, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic background. Despite facing
barriers such as low education levels, high unemployment, legal stigma, mental health disorders,
and housing instability, many formerly incarcerated individuals demonstrate resilience,
adaptability, and a desire for positive change. The program will provide career readiness
workshops, vocational training, job placement assistance, and mentorship, all tailored to the
specific needs of this population. By fostering essential skills, offering support services, and
promoting employment opportunities, the program seeks to improve long-term employment
outcomes and reduce reoffending. Additionally, the program will collect both process-oriented
data (i.e. participant knowledge and attitude changes) and outcome data (i.e. long-term
employment success) to assess its effectiveness and ensure continuous improvement.
Career Development Program Plan
Successful reintegration into society after incarceration is a challenging journey, often
hindered by barriers to employment, limited access to career development resources, and the
stigma associated with a criminal record. To address these challenges, we propose the Pathway
Forward Career Development Program, a structured initiative designed to equip previously
incarcerated individuals with the skills, resources, and support necessary to secure stable,
meaningful employment. This program is tailored to meet the unique needs of justice-involved
individuals by providing job readiness training, career counseling, vocational skills development,