Funding Details: Second Chance Act Youth Offender Reentry Program - Rural Community Toolbox
Provides funding to states, territories, local governments, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments to increase public safety and reduce recidivism among moderate to high-risk youth following release from a juvenile residential facility. For this funding opportunity, recidivism is defined as a return to a residential placement facility, jail, or prison with either a new conviction or as the result of a violation of the terms of supervision within 24 months of initial release.
Category 1: Youth Offender Reentry Program grants to develop and implement comprehensive prerelease and post-release reentry plans for youth leaving confinement. Category 1 services are expected to include:
Screening and assessment of youth needs and risk of reoffending
Identifying and coordinating appropriate community-based program services at least 90 days prior to release
Connect youth with evidence-based programming designed to ensure continuity of services, and a safe and successful transition from placement to the community
Category 2: Community-Based Youth Reentry Program grants to implement and expand reentry programs that provide comprehensive case management plans to directly address criminogenic risk and needs of youth offenders and connect them with necessary services. Category 2 funds may be used for:
Mentoring for youth offenders from prerelease through post-release reentry phases
Transitional services, including:
Educational, literacy, and vocational services and transitional job strategies
Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and services
Coordinated services such as physical and mental healthcare and housing support
Validated assessment tools to evaluate risk factors of youth reentering the community
Training related to youth offenders and victims' issues
Both case management services and evidence-based programming should begin during the prerelease phase, where feasible, and continue during the post-release phase of the reentry program. Additional information on program requirements and priority areas for Category 1 and Category 2 can be found the funding announcement.
Category 1 applicants are required to provide matching funds for 50% of the federal award amount from non-federal sources. Category 2 does not require matching funds.
Eligible applicants in Category 1 include:
Eligible Category 1 applicants may apply in partnership with interested persons such as federal corrections and supervision agencies, service providers, and nonprofit organizations.
Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education
Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education
Indian/Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments
Eligible Category 2 applicants must include a memorandum of agreement or understanding (MOA/MOU) that clearly demonstrates an established, collaborative relationship with the correctional agencies that oversee the specific facility or facilities from which the applicant will recruit the target youth reentry population and the agencies that oversee community corrections, probation or parole, for the target population.
In order to be eligible for an Youth Offender Reentry grant, applicants must meet the Second Chance Act mandatory requirements.
Capacity Building • New Program
One rural community who received funding is the Division of Juvenile Justice for the state of Alaska in Juneau, Alaska to fund the Alaska Juvenile Offender Reentry Support Services to decrease recidivism by 20% for youth transitioning back to their communities after secure confinement, to increase staff capacity to meet the needs of youth transitioning out of secure confinement and returning to community supervision, to identify evidence-based practices that can be used to address gaps in the geographic challenges within the state, and more.
Community Planning and Coalition Building • Community Supervision • Health and Wellness • Housing and Homelessness • Justice System • Mental Health • Substance Use Disorder • Youth