serviced by Nova Ancora become employed and are removed from the public assistance "welfare rolls", as they become financially independent and self sufficient taxpaying citizens.

## The Teamwork Approach

Nova Ancora utilizes an effective, collaborative teamwork approach in servicing both probationers and our resource providers (i.e. employers or programs). The team is comprised of four major players: the probationer, the supervision or referring Probation Officer, the Nova Ancora representative and the employer or program to which the probationer is referred. By effectively sharing information and communicating cooperatively we try to ensure that the placements we make are successful.

## The Referral Process and Procedure

Upon interviewing a prospective Nova Ancora probationer, the supervision probation officer will query the probationer with regard to his education and employment qualifications, background and interests. The supervision probation officer will then peruse his "Nova Ancora folder" containing various resources, which have been distributed to him periodically in the form of memos, articulating the highlights of different employers, or programs' requirements and benefits.

The probation officer will describe the employment, vocational training, life skills training or educational programs to the motivated and interested probationer. After making a preliminary match, the referring probation officer will drug test the probationer (we do not accept any probationer who tests positive for drugs). In addition, the supervision probation officer will check to see if the probationer has the required documents (e.g. birth certificate, social security card and valid photo identification card). No referral can be made until the probationer produces the required documentation.

Nova Ancora has implemented a photo I.D. generating service, which has been initiated and implemented by Mr. William Houser. The photo identification card service that Nova Ancora provides is of significance since many of our probationers do not possess the required documents to obtain the N.Y.S. Department of Motor Vehicles non-driver's license photo I.D. card. Many of the resources to which our probationers are referred require a photo I.D. card.

After interviewing the probationer, receiving a negative drug test, checking the probationer's documentation, making a preliminary match between the probationer and the prospective resource, the probation officer then telephones a Nova Ancora representative. The Nova Ancora representative assists the probation officer in making the actual resource selection which appears to be most appropriate for the individual probationer. The Nova Ancora representative collects specific identifying data and case related information from the referring probation officer and more fully describes the specific advantages of the resource selected. The referring probation officer completes the Nova Ancora "Letter of Introduction" which will introduce the probationer to the employer or program to which the probationer is referred. The second copy of the Letter of Introduction is mailed to Nova Ancora with a copy of the most recent negative drug test. The third copy is filed in the case record.