Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2010, $500,000)
The Congressionally Recommended Awards Program, authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects recommended by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-117, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 2010 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY2010 Department of Justice Appropriations Act.
The Mayor's Office of Employment Development (MOED), Baltimore City's workforce investment agency and one-stop career center operator will use their 2010 Congressional Selected Award to expand its capacity to serve the city's ex-offender population at its Reentry Center (ReC). The funding will support job development and employment counseling, along with staff and operational costs of a one-stop career center.
MOED intends to serve upwards of 3,000 ex-offenders, providing services which include: assessment; child support modification; social security number and picture identification; one-on-one job counseling; job development, placement and retention services; literacy services and remediation; and information and referral to needed support services in the community. In addition to enabling MOED to increase annual enrollment, skills training, and job placement outcomes for ex-offenders on-site at the ReC, the funding will be used to provide front-line personnel with offender workforce development specialist training and certification to better serve the diverse needs of Baltimore's ex-offenders.
NCA/NCF