Halfway House Managers are responsible for the operation of halfway houses also known as residential or pre-release centers (community-based correctional facilities which house criminal offenders). An offender may be placed in a halfway house instead of going to prison or for a period of time before parole. Halfway houses help prepare the residents for life in the "outside" community.

Job Duties 

Halfway House Managers may:

Prepare budgets

Keep records

Communicate with parole officers

Supervise and train staff

Maintain and repair the house and equipment

Serve as an advocate for the halfway house before community groups

Serve as a mediator between the residents and the community if problems arise

Maintain the security of the house and residents

Coordinate recreational, educational, vocational counseling, and other programs for residents

Meet with the board of directors

Participate in fund raising activities for the house

Collect rent payments if residents have to make such payments

The last three statements of duties pertain to Managers of privately founded halfway houses.

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

187.167-186 HALFWAY HOUSE MANAGERS, are responsible for the operation of halfway houses or pre-release centers (community-based correctional facilities which house criminal offenders). An offender may be placed in a halfway house instead of going to prison or for a period of time before parole. Halfway houses help prepare the residents for life in the "outside" community.

When halfway houses are part of a larger group of halfway houses operated by the same organization, administrative duties such as budgeting, staff selection and training, and program planning tend to be handled centrally by program directors, rather than by resident Managers.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Halfway House Managers are generally responsible to halfway house program directors. If there are other employees in the house, they may be under the supervision of the Halfway House Manager. Managers may also be responsible for 10 to 20 persons in a halfway house or 50 to 100 in a pre-release center.

Managers usually work indoors in comfortable, home-like surroundings. Some Managers may spend time outdoors doing lawn work or house repairs, or supervising recreation activities. They have constant contact with the residents which may be emotionally draining.

The workweek differs greatly from house to house and even from week to week in the same house. Managers may be expected to put in long hours and work overtime, weekends, or odd shifts if the situation calls for it. Field work may be required, such as visiting residents on their jobs or the families of residents for release planning.

They may belong to professional associations, such as the American Correctional Association, or employee Organizations where they work. Members must pay periodic dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Working with people

• Working long or varied hours

• Variety in a work setting

You Should Be Able To:

• Have familiarity with therapy techniques & the criminal justice system

• Be firm and command authority

• Adjust quickly to different situations

• Keep records such as financial records/records pertaining to the house

• Make decisions using personal judgment

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

If the house has a budget of $5,000 per month, what is the budget for the year?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Most of the money a business uses for these expenses comes from the sale of its products and services. Since these funds come from the operation of the business, they are described as internal funds.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

You should be able to write a report explaining any conflict that might have occurred during the day.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

You should be able to decide the best way to solve a conflict between two residents.

Private agencies have varied educational requirements for Managers. Those employed by the Michigan Department of Corrections are usually required to have a bachelor's degree in such fields as criminal justice, social work, sociology, or psychology. For those employed as para-professionals, less formal education is required. Nationally, there is a movement to require certification for correctional Halfway House Managers although this is not presently required. Certification, where applicable, is handled by the American Correctional Association.

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a High School Diploma or Equivalent or an Associate Degree (two years of study beyond High School) or a Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond High School) may qualify a person for this occupation. A bachelor's degree or master's degree is becoming more necessary to become a manager for Halfway Houses. A clinical background in social work, career counseling, or psychology is usually preferred.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0600 BUSINESS , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1100 ECONOMICS , 1500 FOODS & NUTRITION , 2200 MATH , 3000 SOCIAL STUDIES

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this MOIScript

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

161 SOCIAL SERVICE

Programs in Social Service provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed for professional employment with agencies which promote the welfare of the individual and the community. Individuals may work for hospitals, nursing homes, religious organizations, schools, welfare and social services agencies, the judicial system, and other concerned groups. The minimum degree for registration as a certified Social Worker is a Master's Degree in Social Work.

Courses will vary from school to school but may include:

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this MOIScript

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

There are no Military Programs related to this MOIScript  

E-Learning Courses and Programs  

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Field placement in a local halfway house as part of college course work is a good way to gain experience in this field. Volunteer work with service organizations will give you a chance to explore social service occupations. Practical experience might be available through postsecondary education programs in social service.

                School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Halfway House Manager employer

internships

volunteer work with a Halfway House Manager employer

community service work with an agency

Individuals may enter this field by passing state civil service exams or by applying directly to private employers. Consulting college placement offices, local offices of Michigan Works!, and newspaper want ads may be helpful in finding openings. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:  

Michigan Talent Bank

Yahoo! Careers

MONSTER.COM  

You should also enter your electronic resume on these on-line services.

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings of Halfway House Managers vary with education, training, experience, level of responsibility, and the location and size of the facility. Generally, Halfway House Managers employed in government receive higher salaries than Managers employed by private organizations earn. Program coordinators and directors earn considerably more than resident Managers do.

There are no national surveys which provide average salaries for Halfway House Managers. Pay varies greatly by region. Some private halfway houses are becoming large non-profit businesses in many states. For the directors of such large businesses, pay may be as high as $200,000 per year. For these type of facilities a Master's degree in Business Administration may be required. Managers are paid more for the business management skills that are essential to the operation of a large business.

Halfway House Managers working for the State of Michigan (parole/ probation officers, including supervisors) earned from $29,390 to $45,552 annually (1999). Paraprofessional positions (corrections officers) earned from $25,230 to $37,544 annually.

In Michigan, counties contract for such services. Typically the halfway house will be run by a clinician, that is a social worker or psychologist who has clinical experience dealing with offenders. In Michigan, Halfway House Directors of halfway house facilities generally earned from $30,000 to $60,00 or more per year (1999). Halfway House Mangers, including Directors and Program Managers working for substance abuse facilities are in general more highly paid than those working in corrections facilities.

Benefits for Halfway House Managers depend on the employer. Those employed by the State of Michigan receive the same basic benefits as other state workers receive.

Although experience is extremely important, changes for advancement are slim without additional or specialized education. With experience and an advance degree (usually a master's degree in criminal justice), Halfway House Managers can become directors or administrators in a chain of private halfway houses, or they can become probation and parole officers or supervisors. (See MOIScript #318)

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Halfway houses can be either private or public institutions. Private halfway houses often contract their services with public correction agencies or obtain outside sources of funding. Private halfway houses are becoming large businesses. Public halfway houses are components of state or municipal corrections agencies.

In Michigan, all Halfway House Managers are employed by the State of Michigan or by private organizations contracting their services to the State. There are 9 community corrections centers operated directly by the Department of Corrections for prison inmates. These facilities are licensed by the State of Michigan. These residential centers for probationers (2) and for residential substance abuse (90) are located in Detroit, Pontiac, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Jackson, Lansing, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, and various rural communities throughout the state.

Opportunities for employment in this field are good because of a high turnover rate caused by relatively low pay and long hours. Also, the state of Michigan may increase the number of state-operated halfway houses which will lead to more opportunities for employment. The continued growth of halfway house programs will depend on available funding, especially for private programs. The long-term success of community-based programs such as these will depend on their incorporation into the existing corrections system.

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2000

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.

SUMMARY PROFILE

The occupation of Halfway House Manager can be summarized by the following:

MOISCRIPTS are Copyright 2003, Michigan Department of Career Development