Host job fairs focused on career pathways and peer roles for justice-involved individuals in the treatment system

Lead agency: Public Safety Executive Office

Population of focus (if applicable): Justice-involved individuals seeking career opportunities in peer support roles and related career pathways that value their lived experience.  

Summary of planned action: 

The County will create employment and training opportunities for justice-involved individuals and community-based organizations seeking candidates with lived experience and/or peer certifications. The program will enhance accessibility by providing food and transportation options for event attendees, helping to increase participation across the community. 

Actions taken: 

• The Public Safety Executive Office and justice partners organized its second annual justice-involved peer workforce event for people with justice system experience to learn about peer workforce careers, paid certification pathways, educational program opportunities, and heard from peers currently working in the field. The Peer Support In Action: Educational Summit and Resource Fair, took place at the North Inland Live Well Center in Escondido on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, following collaborative planning by ATI partners, San Diego Workforce Partnership, and Feeding San Diego. The event was attended by approximately 150 participants. The event provided keynote speeches, presentations, panels, an opportunity drawing, free grocery bags, networking and a resource fair in North County.  

• A digital post-event survey was offered to all attendees in person and via email. 17 individuals answered and provided valuable feedback:

• 100% of respondents found the overall experience of the event to be excellent or good 

• 87% of respondents found the content of the sessions very informative or informative  

• 88% found the event to significantly increase their interest in working in a peer support role 

• 88% reported strongly increasing their awareness of local colleges and educational opportunities for individuals with lived justice system experience 

• 100% reported being able to network with organizations and other attendees.  

• Attendees expressed interest in stronger County engagement, regional events, more employment resources, networking and the opportunity to include a variety of topics including knowing your rights, laws and legislation that could be useful for the lived experience community. 

Next steps: 

• Building on the success of the second annual event, ATI will incorporate feedback from exit surveys to include more topics that could be of interest to the peer workforce community. We know this innovative event increases knowledge and understanding, belonging, community connections, and empowers individuals who are pursuing education and careers in the behavioral health treatment system.  

• ATI will strengthen community involvement by continuing to share information and opportunities communicated at the 2025 event with the goal of maintaining established connections through our distribution communications and the ATI Advisory Group. We plan to build upon workforce partnerships and develop strategic partnerships moving forward with additional community-based organizations, behavioral health programs and educational institutions.  

• County ATI partners plan to collaborate and host additional events that could include promoting peer workforce in local jails with information about peer development opportunities throughout San Diego County.