Second Chance Reentry

Capacity Builders, Inc. (CBI), is requesting $900,000 for a 36-month a Workforce Development program, called Improving Reentry Education program, 150 Navajo American Indian (AI) adults who are incarcerated in the Navajo Nation Correctional Facilities in Tuba City, AZ, Chinle, AZ, Kayenta, AZ, and Crownpoint, NM. The Navajo Nation (NN) jurisdiction is the largest reservation in the U.S. and the size of West Virginia, stretching from Arizona, across into New Mexico and Utah. CBI is a nonprofit organization with 17 years of experience serving Navajo families on the NN reservation and border towns. CBI claims the 1A Priority to advance equity and remove barriers to accessing academic and trade/vocational training for historically underserved communities. CBI requests funding for Category 1: Improving Reentry Education Outcomes.

The purpose of the program is to improve reentry education and employment outcomes, including fair chance opportunities to improve education and employment outcomes for individuals currently incarcerated with 2 years or less before release into the community. There is currently no job readiness program offered in any locations of the NNDOC facilities.

The program will provide job readiness screening and career counsel for inmates, with the development of a personalized achievable education and career plan. CBI staff will assist in obtaining needed documents, such as Birth Certificates, Indian Blood Certificate, and State Identification to support enrollment is academic education or trade/vocational training. CBI staff will provide access to virtual training and workshop opportunities, including GED prep courses and case management for 12 months post release. To address risk factors for recidivism, CBI will provide evidence-based programs of Moral Reconation Therapy and the Warrior Down program. To address cultural connectedness, CBI will implement the practice-based and culturally relevant programs Addressing Family Violence & Abuse© and Linking Generations by Strengthening Relationship©.  Cultural programs, including Warrior Down, will be delivered in correctional facilities and in Navajo Nation communities’ Chapter Houses to ensure reentrants have the opportunity to have access to training or to complete the training.

Additional program focus is to conduct a labor market analysis of the NN and border towns. CBI will work with NN Workforce Development to ensure that the analysis correctly represents the available training and employment readiness for individuals who live on the reservation. In the process of conducting a labor market analysis for the NN, CBI will establish a consortium of potential employers and training providers.