If you or someone you know is interested in participating in 180 RAP, the first step is attending orientation. Orientation sessions take approximately 30 minutes to gather demographic information, assess immediate needs, provide support and schedule necessary follow-up appointments. 

Orientations are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. We look forward to working with you.

• Skills and interest assessments
• Career and educational goal setting
• Work readiness and life skills training (credit and noncredit classes)
• Registration assistance, financial aid and scholarship application support
• Continuous coaching, tutoring and mentoring
• Employment support: resume creation, job referrals, ongoing support
• Transition support for individuals leaving jail, prison, treatment facilities
• Onsite wraparound support and referrals to community partners
• Access to the Re-entry Pantry & Resource Center: basic needs including food, hygiene, clothing, SNAP application assistance, birth certificate and ID acquisition, special needs, etc.
• Peer Support Groups
• Recovery Groups

Credit classes are offered onsite at Omaha Correctional Center, Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, and Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility. Eligible work release residents in Omaha and Lincoln may register for online or campus classes with facility approval.

Credit classes are bundled into fast-track options for career training:

• Trades - construction, manufacturing, electrical technology, welding
• Information technology
• Business
• College and career preparation

These career pathways lead to stackable credentials and include courses such as:

• BSAD 1000 - Introduction to Business
• ELTR 1200 - Basic Electricity
• EXPL 1000 - Exploratory Studies
• INFO 1001 - Information Systems and Literacy
• INFO 1111 - Linux Operating Systems I
• MFGT 1000 - Introduction to Process and Power Operations
• MFGT 1302 - Stationary Engineering I
• MGMT 2100 - Principles of Management
• PSYC 1010 - Introduction to Psychology
• WELD 1000 - Print Reading for Welding

Through a partnership with Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, Tecumseh State Correctional Institution and Cornhusker State Industries, MCC hosts a Career Development Center at Tecumseh, an area dedicated to offering workforce development through education to the incarcerated population. Students have an opportunity to attend one to two classes each quarter to earn career certificates in construction, electrical technology, information technology and manufacturing.

Noncredit classes are offered inside correctional facilities and on campus to help transitioning individuals gain employability and job seeking skills to empower these populations to successfully transition. Noncredit workshop topics and offerings include but are not limited to:

• CDL Preparation
• Construction Academy
• Digital Literacy
• Financial Empowerment
• Forklift Training
• OSHA Training: Construction and General Industry
• StrengthsFinder® profiles
• Mastering Soft Skills: Relationship Building, Time Management, Decision Making and Goal Setting

180 RAP staff is uniquely equipped to assist the re-entry population with obtaining employment, resume creation or updates, interview preparation and direct employment referrals. In 2023, the Center was used 4,807 times and achieved a 99.83% employment rate. The Career Readiness Center has connections to over 290 second chance employers in every industry. Prior to scheduling an appointment with the Re-entry Career Readiness Center team, individuals must first attend orientation.

If you are an employer interested in scheduling a tour or would like to learn more about Metropolitan Community College 180 RAP, please contact the Career Readiness Center. Employers looking to receive potential candidate referrals from 180 RAP can complete the form below.

Employment Referral Form

The Re-entry Pantry is available for access anytime the Re-entry Center is open. You may receive assistance with food, hygiene, clothing and other donated items. If you were recently released from jail, prison or a treatment center, you are eligible to receive a transition backpack filled with basic needs.

DONATIONS: The Pantry accepts donations of gently used men's clothing or small household items. If you are interested in donating, email 180 RAP or call 531-622-2639 or 531-622-7368 to coordinate a donation.

180 RAP offers peer support groups at the MCC Re-entry Center:

• Long Term Relief meets on Wednesday at 5:30 pm is open to anyone incarcerated 10+ years and/or those who have served multiple sentences
• Doin' Life (Not Time) meets on Saturday at 8:30 am and is open to anyone ever incarcerated
• Living Above Your Circumstances (LAYC) - day and evening groups - schedules vary each month

Please join us as we help each other move forward.

In collaboration with Ooh de Lally, a nonprofit restaurant in the Omaha Dundee area, Metropolitan Community College and 180 Re-entry Assistance Program created the Jump Start Culinary Program. The Jump Start Culinary Program offers individuals leaving the Nebraska prison system support and short term training in the culinary and hospitality industries with the goal of connecting the students to the culinary industry upon completion of the training.

The MCC Institute for Culinary Arts (ICA) developed modules that provide Jump Start participants with prep cook training, line cook training and restaurant service training. Completion of these three modules provide earns an MCC Certificate in Restaurant Basics and students may apply to earns an MCC Certificate in Restaurant Basics and students may apply to earn microcredentials when registering at the ICA.

If you are interested in learning more, email the 180 RAP Culinary Jump Start Program.

MCC received the CAREERS Grant from the Bureau of Justice Administration to provide comprehensive case management, collaboration and transition support to a pilot group of individuals planning to release to the Omaha area. The LIFE Project team is working with Vera Institute of Justice, Nebraska's Department of Correctional Services, various employers and community housing providers and other partners to support this work. If you have questions, please email 180 RAP.

180 RAP - a full turn in the right direction!