Second Chance Act Training and Technical Assistance Category 3: Heath and Housing

The Council of State Governments Justice Center (CSGJC) seeks $2,724,583 from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to continue to serve as the Second Chance Act (SCA) Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Program Category 3: Health and Housing provider. CSG’s goal is to position Category 3 grantees and the field to plan, expand, implement, and evaluate health and housing initiatives that improve outcomes for people reentering their communities from carceral settings.
CSG’s TTA will be designed to ensure that grantees implement a system-wide, coordinated approach with accurate screening and assessment procedures, connection to evidence-based housing, treatment, and services, effective data-collection and program evaluation, and the development of sustainability plans. Leveraging our deep experience as a federal TTA provider, CSG’s TTA approach will include: delivering guidance aligned with EBPs to improve outcomes for the target populations; a TTA coach for grantee; using Planning and Implementations Guides and other planning-oriented guides to support grantees in systematic planning; tailored assistance for each grantee; peer-to-peer learning opportunities; insights from subject matter experts (such as our partners) to enhance TTA; and development of resources and tools to support grantees and the field.
CSGJC will focus on the following objectives: 1) support SCA grantees to adopt and effectively implement evidence-based policies, programs, and practices and strengthen cross-systems coordination; 2) position grantees and the field to improve access to evidence-based treatment for people with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental illnesses pre-release, in reentry, and in crisis; 3) help the field address barriers to securing safe, stable, affordable housing in reentry; 4) assist states and their partners in leveraging expanded state Medicaid plans to scale services and treatment for people pre-release and in reentry; 5) position grantees and the broader reentry field to embrace strategies to strengthen family engagement and support in reentry; and 6) drive the reentry field forward and further the adoption of evidence-based practices.
CSG will continue to partner with the Center for Health Care Strategies, Jeweld Legacy Group, Alternative Solutions, the Center for Children and Family Futures, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, the Center for Effective Public Policy, and Homebase. CSG will leverage their partners’ deep experience throughout the technical assistance provided to grantees and non-grantees as well as for award-related resources relevant to their particular expertise.