Metro’s RID Patrol program tackles the problem of dumped garbage on public property and provides other cleanup services around greater Portland. Working from the 2030 Regional Waste Plan, and Metro’s strategic plan to advance racial equity, the RID Patrol is expanding its current work transition program and creating career pathways for individuals with systemic barriers to employment.
This program will be designed to support a transformational experience for people with systematic barriers to employment and specifically focus its services to support Black, Indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC) impacted by the criminal justice system.
Work transition program advisory committee
Metro has created an external work transition program advisory committee that centers the voices of those who have experience with the criminal justice system, are transitioning out of homelessness, work to create and provide wrap-around services (ie childcare, financial literacy, and mentorship), and/or are representative of greater Portland’s BIPOC communities. The committee will inform the expansion of the RID Patrol workforce transition program by ensuring the development of the work transition program follows the principles set forth in the 2030 Regional Waste Plan and the program meets best practice standards for workforce development.
It is crucial the program is launched with adequate wrap-around support for people transitioning out of incarceration and other systemic barriers. In practice, this includes but is not limited to elements of racial equity, trauma-informed care, harm reduction principles, cultural humility and restorative justice.