CPSEMO's LEAP (Linking Employment Activities Pre-release) Program

The Community Partnership of Southeast Missouri (CPSEMO) proposes the Linking Employment Activities Pre-Release (LEAP) program to create a comprehensive community-based reentry initiative for justice-involved individuals in Cape Girardeau, Perry, Bollinger, and Scott Counties. The program aims to enhance reentry education and employment outcomes by offering high-quality educational and vocational training within correctional facilities and upon release. Key activities include STEM education courses, vocational training, adult basic education, GED preparation classes, literacy programs, job readiness training, job placement services, apprenticeships, and supportive employment services. Additionally, LEAP provides comprehensive case management, transitional housing, supportive housing, rental assistance, and housing placement services. Peer support and mentoring are integral to the program, offering guidance and encouragement from individuals with similar experiences. The program also promotes community engagement through civic involvement, volunteer opportunities, recreational activities, and connections with substance abuse treatment and mental health services. Expected outcomes include a significant reduction in recidivism rates, improved employment opportunities, educational attainment, housing stability, personal growth, community integration, and high client satisfaction. The intended beneficiaries are justice-involved individuals, including those with felony and misdemeanor convictions, who are within two years of release from incarceration at the Cape Girardeau County Jail and the Missouri Department of Corrections' Southeast Correctional Facility. Local community-based organizations, educational institutions, and workforce development agencies will partner with CPSEMO to deliver these services, underscoring the organization’s commitment to fair chance opportunities, fostering self-sufficiency, and building stronger communities through effective reentry support.