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Family Reintegration & Reentry Pilot Program for Female Offenders

Award Information

Award #
2010-RN-BX-0001
Location
Congressional District
Status
Closed
Funding First Awarded
2010
Total funding (to date)
$300,000

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2010, $300,000)

The Second Chance Act (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of parents who are incarcerated as well as their families. Research has shown that children may benefit from maintaining healthy relationships with their incarcerated parents. Section 113 of the Second Chance Act authorizes grants to states, units of local government, and Indian tribes to improve the provision of substance abuse treatment within prison and jails and after reentry for inmates who have minor children and also includes outreach to families and provision of treatment and other services to children and other family members of participant inmates. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) will fund eligible applicants to plan, implement, or expand such treatment programs.

The Family-Based Prisoner Substance Abuse Treatment Program enhances the capability of states and tribes to provide substance abuse treatment for incarcerated parents; prepares offenders for their reintegration into the communities from which they came by incorporating reentry planning activities into treatment programs; and assists offenders and their communities through the reentry process through the delivery of community-based treatment and other broad-based aftercare services. Projects will provide prison-based substance abuse treatment and parenting programs for incarcerated parents of minor children, as well as treatment and other services to the participating offenders' minor children and family members. Programming must be targeted to inmates with minor children and include services for these inmates, their minor children, and other family members. By law, no less that 5 percent of the funds available for the Family-Based Substance Abuse Treatment Program will be used for grants to Indian Tribes.

The Virginia Department of Corrections will use the grant funds for a project that targets minor children and family members of returning female ex-offenders. Rural SW Virginia is experiencing an epidemic of prescription narcotic and other drug abuse/dependency that affects the very fabric of these communities. This project will target female offenders who are currently receiving drug treatment in Virginia Department of Corrections facilities and are returning to the most impacted rural counties. The goals will include: (1) Improved treatment and reentry services and reduced recidivism and drug abuse; and (2) improved services for the children and family members of drug abusing female offenders. In addition, the initiative will aim to facilitate successful family reunification whenever possible.

CA/NCF

Date Created: September 7, 2010