Goodwill asks $3M to sustain "Flip the Script" prison-diversion program

Rep. Brenda Carter introduced a $3,000,000 legislative direct-spending request to support Goodwill of Greater Detroit's Flip the Script program. Greg Anderson, vice president of workforce development, told the subcommittee the program serves people ages 16 to 39 with cognitive-behavioral programming, job training, GED preparation and supportive services, and that the program has achieved a roughly 90% diversion completion rate for participants placed by courts.

Anderson said the program helps participants secure employment (he cited an example of a participant who is earning $23 an hour after program completion), and that Goodwill estimates roughly $16,000,000 in annual cost savings to the state per $3,000,000 invested, based on avoided incarceration costs and typical sentencing lengths. The presenters said funds would cover operations and barrier-removal services (transportation, identification, supportive services) and that the Wayne County portion of the program would largely sustain current capacity while Oakland County capacity could grow.

Committee members asked whether the money would expand or sustain services; Anderson said the request is primarily for operations and participant supports, with some geographic expansion in Oakland County.