Lackawanna County, PA - FAIR Substance Abuse & Housing Success Initiative

Lackawanna County, PA - FAIR Substance Abuse & Housing Success Initiative

Lackawanna County Department of Human Services (LC DHS) is pleased to submit this grant application in response to the Bureau of Justice Assistance Second Chance Act Pay for Success Initiative.  LC DHS is applying under subcategory Performance-based and Outcomes-based Contracting for Recovery Housing in the amount of $1,090,078. This project services Lackawanna County, which has a population of 214,437 according to the U.S. Census Bureau (2010). The purpose of the project is to divert individuals with a substance use disorder from higher levels of involvement in the criminal justice system and to support those families concurrently involved with the child welfare system.  Many persons with a substance use disorder leaving the criminal justice system relapse and/or rearrested because they have lost their housing and custody of their children.  Recovery housing and intensive services are necessary for these persons and their children to succeed.

The project will involve implementing a recovery housing program in accordance with SAMHSA’s best practice guidelines and FAIR, a California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare-recognized promising practice. The goal will be to reduce recidivism in the criminal justice system with substance use related crimes, increase reunification with parents who are stable in their recovery, and improve coordination of services with law enforcement and the courts to ensure timely and effective delivery of services. The project will also allow for individuals pregnant or with children who remain in prison due to a lack of a home plan to safely return to the community with supports and services in place. The project includes collaborations with OSLC Developments, Inc. (FAIR developers), IJIS Institute Consultants (project management), the LC DHS (including the Office of Youth and Family Services and the Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs), Lackawanna County Courts, Lackawanna County Prison, and Lackawanna County Probation and Parole. Lackawanna County will partner with OSLC Developments, Inc. and Dr. Lisa Saldana for the evaluation of the FAIR promising practice. Lori Chaffers, MSW, Program Director for the Lackawanna County Office of Social Services Research and Development will serve as the project coordinator and will oversee the data collection efforts for the program evaluation.