Path to Recovery - Gender-Specific Reentry Initiative for Female Offenders

Applicant: Santa Maria Hostel, Inc., 501(c)(3) nonprofit; over 60 years’ serving women in crisis; Texas’ largest gender-specific (female) multi-site substance use disorder treatment and recovery center; regional safety net for underserved/marginalized EO13985 populations.

Project Title: Path to Recovery – Gender Specific Reentry Initiative for Female Offenders

Geographic Location: Houston, Harris County, TX and 12 surrounding counties (TXPH Region 6, Congressional Districts 29, 18).

Correctional Partners (MOUs): TDCJ (Plane State Jail, BAMBI program at SMH); Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department (WHO-A, WHO at SMH, post-release community supervision); Harris County Sheriff’s Office (Harris County Jail).

Purpose/Goals: Increase supports to enhance reentry/recovery goals and reduce barriers to successful community reintegration; decrease recidivism and criminal justice involvement; and increase employment, housing stability, abstinence from substance use and social connectedness.

Baseline recidivism rate: 37% (rearrest), 32% (reincarceration); based on rates cited for target population by corrections partners/data.

Validated classification, risk/needs assessment: TRAS (TDCJ, HCCSCD); TCU (HCSO, SMH)

Target population: 150 (moderate to high risk) female offenders, underserved/marginalized EO13985 priority populations, including women of color and those pregnant/parenting minor children, with histories or risk of substance abuse/co-occurring disorders, and trauma, expected unemployed, without a diploma/GED; no permanent/stable living situation; and at/below 100% FPL.

Services: Path to Recovery provides gender-specific/responsive (female offender) pre/post-release services, including screening/assessment, peer recovery coaching/mentoring, transitional reentry/recovery supports. Services offered at least 3 months pre- and 3 months post-release; additional 6 months of support/follow-up and monthly recovery check-ups up to 12 months. Recovery Supportive Transportation Plan upon release from correctional facility. Individualized recovery/reentry plans developed collaboratively with offender and corrections partner. Transitional reentry/recovery supports: case management, substance use disorder treatment-integrated mental health services; trauma-informed care/services; health/MH/wellness supports; housing supports; education/employment supports; civil legal aid; life skills/parenting; transportation assistance; social/recovery support; barrier buster fund; other wraparound services.

Training/Support: Gender-specific recovery coach training; cross-training by correctional partners (justice/reentry processes; offender/victim issues); SMH training on trauma-informed care, cultural competency, confidentiality, abuse/neglect, PIAB, MI, recovery support, behavioral problem solving, case management; monthly coach connection support/feedback.

Requirements Met: Correctional partner MOUs attached; validated risk/needs assessment tool utilized; target population defined; baseline recidivism rate established/documented; and outcomes measurement plan included, with 12 month post-release follow-up.

Priority Considerations Met: Project 1) includes plan to implement activities demonstrated effective in successful reentry of offenders; 2) includes independent evaluator; 3) supports EO13985 (priority 1A, narrative pages 4-14), promotes equity/removal of barriers to access/opportunities for under-resourced communities; 4) utilizes evidence-based programs/practices.