ChancesR: Re-Entry, Reunification, and Recovery

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of incarcerated adults and juveniles who are released from prison, jail, and juvenile residential facilities and returning to communities. The Second Chance Act will help ensure that the transition individuals make from prison, jail, or juvenile residential facilities to the community is successful and promotes public safety. Section 101 of the Act authorizes grants to state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes that may be used for demonstration projects to promote the safe and successful reintegration. The goal of Section 101 of the Second Chance Act is to provide support to eligible applicants for the development and implementation of comprehensive and collaborative strategies that address the challenges posed by reentry to increase public safety and reduce recidivism. The objectives of this program are to provide offenders with appropriate evidence-based services (including addressing individual criminogenic needs) based on a reentry plan that relies on a risk/needs assessment that reflects the risk of recidivism for that offender. Two categories for adult offender reentry programs were funded. Category 1 (planning grant) recipients will constitute jurisdictions which have demonstrated a commitment to establishing a reentry program, and have made progress on the 10 mandatory requirements of a comprehensive reentry program, but have not yet fully completed each step. In addition to funding, successful Category 1 recipients will receive targeted technical assistance to help them in the planning process. Category 2 (implementation grant) recipients must include specific strategies for implementing the 10 mandatory requirements of a comprehensive reentry program.

The grant recipient will use the supplemental grant funds to continue to support ChancesR program. It is anticipated that this program will serve 150 each year. Approximately 125 of these individuals will be identified in the local jail and another 25 will be identified by the state parole agency. The primary goals of this initiative are to reduce recidivism in the target population, and enhance public safety by reducing crime. The short-term outcomes include: (a) improved identification and enrollment in treatment services, both in the jail and the community; (b) reduced substance use; (c) improved mental health functioning; (d) attainment of stable housing; and, (e) attainment of educational/vocational skills to increase employability.

The recipient will utilize FY 2013 SCA funds to continue to operate the ChancesR program. ChancesR will begin while offenders are incarcerated through the use of screening and assessment tools, transition planning, and specific targeted interventions. Upon release, aftercare and transition services will be utilized to motivate inmates into additional community services that address drug and alcohol addictions, mental and emotional wellness, illiteracy, and lack of education and vocational skills. The program will build on the evidence-based practices (EBP) now in place at the Beaver County Jail and/or in the community. These include: (a) Seeking Safety; (b) Supported Employment (SE) and Supported Education (SEd); (c) Motivational Interviewing (MI); (d) Psychiatric Rehabilitation process; and, (e) Thinking for Change (T4C).

CA/NCF