Advocate Aurora Health’s goal is to help people live well, and that means creating a workforce that is innovative and ready to change the future of health care for their patients, communities and each other. 

As part of their systemwide recruiting strategy, Advocate Aurora Health proactively seeks out new dimensions of diversity to recruit and create inclusive spaces for new team members from all walks of life. This is the impetus for their Returning Citizens Initiative, which offers job opportunities for people with criminal convictions on their record. Through the program, Advocate Aurora Health educates their leadership about how to best support returning citizens. They develop strong community partnerships with organizations such as Center for Self-Sufficiency, Goodwill Workforce Connection and Milwaukee Jobs Work to provide resources, support and job opportunities for program participants. They help participants complete a Department of Human Services process that might allow them to work in health care if their prior conviction currently prevents it. They also reduce recidivism and boost household income for program participants. In 2021, Advocate Aurora hired 28 returning citizens through the initiative.