FY 2016 Mentoring Program

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 grant funding is designed to help communities develop and implement comprehensive and collaborative strategies that address the challenges posed by reentry and recidivism reduction. “Reentry” is not a specific program, but rather a process that starts when an individual is initially incarcerated and ends when he or she has been successfully reintegrated in the community as a law-abiding citizen.

Section 211 of the Act authorizes grants to nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Indian tribes that may be used for comprehensive evidenced-based wrap-around services/programs. The goal of the Comprehensive Community-Based Adult Reentry Program Utilizing Mentors is the use of reentry plans that address the identified needs of the individuals and is supported by the trained mentors to promote the safe and successful community reintegration of adults who have been incarcerated. These needs are often related to housing, employment, substance abuse, and mental health.

The grantee will use their 2016 SCA-Mentoring funds to support the Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative. They seek to reduce recidivism by providing mentoring and transitional services that support successful community reintegration.

CA/NCF