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San Francisco Second Chance (SF Second Chance)

Award Information

Award #
2009-CZ-BX-0049
Location
Congressional District
Status
Closed
Funding First Awarded
2009
Total funding (to date)
$2,600,000

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $600,000)

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) reflects a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from prison and jail and returning to communities. There are currently 2.3 million people serving time in our federal and state prisons, and millions of people cycling through local jails every year. Ninety-five percent of all prisoners incarcerated today will eventually be released and will return to communities. The Second Chance Act will help ensure the transition people make from prison or jail to the community is safe and successful. Section 101 of the Act, in addition to providing grants to state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes that may be used for demonstration reentry projects, also allows for the establishment of a National Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Resource Center.

The Second Chance Act Prisoner Reentry Initiative provides funding to state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes for demonstration projects to promote the safe and successful reintegration into the community of individuals who have been incarcerated. Funded demonstration projects will use validated and dynamic assessment tools to determine the risks and needs of offenders.
Projects will provide offenders in prisons or jails with all necessary services to facilitate reentry into the community. In addition, the projects will develop procedures to ensure that dangerous felons are not released from prison prematurely and provide services that address treatment needs and protect communities against dangerous offenders Allowable uses of funds to enhance a successful transition include: pre-release assessment and case planning, mentoring, housing, education, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, services to enhance family reunification, job training and readiness, and post-release case management and supervision.

San Francisco Department of Public Health will use the FY 2009 Second Chance Act Prisoner Reentry Initiative funds to support the San Francisco Second Chance (SF Second Chance) project. As lead agency for San Francisco Second Chance program, the SF Department of Public Health (DPH) will contract with community-based agencies to provide a range of services responsive to the assessed needs of clients. Offender services will include pre-release case planning, housing, job training readiness, substance abuse and mental health treatment, family reunification and mentoring. The grantee will serve adult state prisoners and parolees serving their parole in San Francisco. Each year, 150 participants will be served, including 100 new female offenders and parole violators in County Jail pending sentencing or return to State Prison. Also, the grantee will serve 50 male prisoners in the state-funded San Francisco Reentry Center located at the San Francisco County Jail. Walden House will serve as the single point of responsibility. Its team of Intensive Case Managers (ICMs) will partner with female clients from enrollment through the end of parole. Case managers will connect offenders with services and counseling to break the cycle of substance abuse relapse and criminal behavior. Male clients will receive case management and pre-release services through the San Francisco Reentry Center. At the time of release, all participants will be matched with structured programs and housing according to their needs.

CA/NCF

Date Created: September 15, 2009