House of Mercy Strong Foundations Reentry Project

Washington State DOC (WADOC) houses nearly 14,000 individuals who recidivate at a rate of over 23.7%. The House of Mercy (HOM) proposes to implement the Strong Foundations Reentry Program (SFRP), a comprehensive community-based program geared towards providing a holistic approach toward reentry in Washington State. The project will prioritize medium and high-risk male adults returning from all of the WADOC facilities to targeted underserved communities in King, Pierce, Whatcom, Clark, Yakima, and Spokane counties. The goal of HOM's SFRP is to implement evidence-based responses to improve reentry, reduce recidivism, and support successful transitional planning for individuals who are currently, or were formerly, involved in the criminal justice system, utilizing the HOM Strong Foundations Model for reentry support, including: 1) Pre-release RNR assessment leading to individualized case plans and career pathways for post-release employment and services; 2) Individualized one-on-one case management (pre & post-release - up to 6 months) “ a collaborative and coordinated approach to linking individuals with appropriate social and human service providers to achieve the objectives in the case plan to ensure their long-term success, 3) HOM Transitions - a full suite of training opportunities and services including: job skills planning/training, job search and placement services, financial freedom workshops, digital training workshops, peer support and mentorship, leadership development, systems and services navigation, and basic needs (affordable transitional housing, transportation, & initial food/clothing support); and 4) The HOM comprehensive database system - a web-based data collection and reporting system that stores and analyzes participation, criminogenic assessments, case management information, and community resources. HOM SFRP will serve 864 participants during the course of the project with a completion rate over 75% based on tracking/monitoring; HOM will maintain the organization's demonstrated reoffense rate of less than 5%; HOM will leverage its existing employer partnerships and continue to track employment outcomes. Deliverables include an action plan to be developed with input from BJA and the assigned technical assistance provider, submitted within 6 months of receiving final budget approval, and a final report and/or independent evaluation at the end of the project period summarizing expenditures and detailing types of programmatic activities, clients served, and overall lessons learned, including milestones and outcomes throughout the program. An independent evaluator with over 17 years of experience leading mixed-methods research projects with programs targeting underserved and vulnerable populations will lead evaluation efforts for this project.