Change that works.

Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) offers individuals just coming home from prison the ongoing support necessary to build career capital and financial stability. We believe that everyone, regardless of their past, deserves the chance to work toward a stronger future for themselves, their families, and their communities.

As the largest reentry employment provider in the country, CEO is using our scale, experience, and data – backed by our participants’ feedback on what works – to change the way government invests in criminal justice and workforce development. 

Featured Stories & News

  • California looks to increase ‘gate money’ to help people adjust to life after prison

    PBS NewsHour story on the importance of re-entry cash assistance featuring our RCS recipients Thanh and Allan and our CEO Sam Schaeffer.

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    External News Article

  • For People Just Leaving Prison, a Novel Kind of Support: Cash

    External News Article

  • “I Am Not My Past”: How Matrice Took Back Control of Her Life

    Blog Post

The CEO Model

Job-Readiness Training

We prepare people for success in the workplace.

Transitional Employment

We provide immediate paid work experience.

Job Coaching & Placement

We connect talented employees with quality employers.

Retention Services

We provide ongoing support to ensure our participants succeed.

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Our Locations

12 States. 31 Cities. 8,000+ Served Annually.

See Our Locations

Work with us.

CEO's work crews provide an array of services for customers including local and state governments and private employers. With nearly 40 years of experience, we are your business solutions partner.

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Our Strategy

Direct Service

Over the last 10 years, CEO has grown from a single site in New York City to over 30 sites across 12 states. Now serving more than 8,000 individuals each year, CEO’s scaling is purposeful and focused on meeting the needs of our participants.

Locations

Policy

We know CEO alone cannot solve our system’s problems. Our team works closely with government leaders and advocates to increase public investment in reentry employment services and remove overly punitive barriers to employment that often accompany a criminal conviction.

Policy & Advocacy

Program Innovation

CEO is one of the most effective employment-focused reentry programs in the country, and we are continuously working to improve. We strive to provide excellent services that ensure the best chance for success for our participants.

Program Innovation

Participant Stories: SNAP Benefits Offered Me the Security to Focus on My Future

“For individuals returning from incarceration,” Christopher says, “financial support is needed immediately. Without my SNAP benefits, I hate to imagine what life would have been like for me coming home. I never want to be in that position of desperation.”

Read the story