DRAEF: HOPES Employer Application
The Delaware Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is looking for restaurant owners and operators who would like to hire HOPES (Hospitality Opportunities for People (Re)Entering Society) participants. We are gathering information via this survey to create an Employer Partner list for participants that are reentering society and seeking employment in the hospitality industry. If you are interested in hiring a HOPES participant, please fill out the form for each business location.
About HOPES: Using a Community Collaborative Model, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) is currently partnering with us, the Delaware Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (DRAEF) along with our Delaware Department of Correction & Education, two local Community-Based Organizations: Project New Start & The Food Bank of Delaware to connect adults of all ages with current or previous justice-involvement to career opportunities in the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry.
HOPES partners utilize the NRAEF’s Restaurant Ready training framework to equip individuals, 18 years of age and older, who are currently in correctional facilities, on parole/probation, or with former justice involvement. Once a participant completes work-readiness and industry-specific training, HOPES helps them gain employment in a local restaurant and/or foodservice establishment. Both the NRAEF & DRAEF work with employers and partnering organizations to help further the professional training and education of HOPES participants through connections to credentials and apprenticeship programs.
Why restaurants can help:
• Restaurant careers are accessible, diverse, and opportunity rich. Restaurants employ more minority managers than any other industry and 90% of all restaurant managers started in entry-level positions.
• Restaurants need a well-trained workforce. Employers are looking for qualified staff familiar with new health and hygiene guidelines, HOPES participants receive ServSafe training which is widely recognized and fulfills many local requirements.
Why hire a HOPES participant:
• A HOPES participant starts receiving case management prior to their release.
• Once they are released, they will work with case managers from either Project New Start or Food Bank of Delaware for a year of wrap-around services. They will receive assistance with dealing with any barriers they encounter.
• HOPES participants receive culinary training and ServSafe instruction either prior to release or upon release.
• HOPES participants are purposefully training and seeking employment in the hospitality industry.
DRAEF Support & Guidance for Employers:
• Promote list of employers with national and state partners, and to our future HOPES participants, creating a direct pipeline of job seekers to hiring managers.
• Partner with Project New Start to coordinate a Re-Entry Simulation Event for all employers who wish to employ our HOPES participants to provide real-time education and support.
• Invite and include all employers on any and all upcoming educational webinars and meetings.
If interested in getting involved, please complete this survey for each business location. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.