From Prison To Phlebotomy: Unique Job Training Launches In New Jersey

NEW JERSEY — More than 600,000 Americans are released from prison every year. And a unique partnership in North Jersey is trying to create a pathway to a new career for some of them.

On Wednesday, the New Jersey Reentry Corporation (NJRC) announced a partnership with Hudson County Community College on a landmark course open to “court-involved” people, which would train them to become certified phlebotomy technicians.

According to the NJRC – which also has a heavy presence in Newark – the new program is the first of its kind in New Jersey. The three-month training program will require academic and substantial clinical training hours. Successful completion of the training will provide for national certification through the National Healthcareer Association.

Camille Hannah, a program participant with the NJRC, said she looks forward to getting her phlebotomy certification and nailing down a steady job with her newfound skills.

“The advantages of this program will help me to secure a career, provide for my son, and be the best mom I can be to him. I am focused, determined, and motivated to do all I can to have a better future for my family,” Hannah said.

“This training program provides me the opportunity to accomplish that,” she added.

According to the NJRC, which cited U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, the field of phlebotomy is one of the fastest-growing career sectors in the country, with a projection of 21,500 openings for phlebotomists each year over the decade.

The group wrote:

“Given that 93 percent of employers encourage or require certification for phlebotomy technicians, the training will place NJRC’s program participants at a competitive advantage for employment as phlebotomy technicians. In 2021, there were 135,500 phlebotomists nationwide, with a median pay of $37,380 annually or $17.97 hourly. Between 2021 and 2031, the industry is expected to expand by 10%, with 13,900 jobs, and we look forward to NJRC program participants contributing to that growth and making meaningful contributions to the industry.”

“As we work to create a more inclusive economy, we’re committed to helping people impacted by incarceration access training and certification for today’s in-demand jobs,” Hudson County Community College President Chris Reber said.

“We’re proud to work with outstanding partners to ensure more people can qualify for great jobs and create new beginnings and brighter futures for themselves and their families,” Reber added.

Former New Jersey governor James McGreevey, who now serves as executive director of the NJRC, said the group is “honored” to work with the college in their commitment to “second chances.”

“We celebrate the importance of this phlebotomy training course, which continues to highlight the need for industry-recognized credentials through job training for the reentry population,” McGreevey said.

• See related article: NJ Releases 800 Inmates – And $148 Per Day It Costs To House Them
• See related article: Nonprofit Helps Ex-Inmates In North Jersey Find Jobs, Stay Out Of Jail
• See related article: Prison Inmates In NJ Deserve A Second Chance, Clergy Members Plead

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