NYAPRS | Mental Health E-News

NYAPRS Note: The US Dept. of Justice has just released funding for non-profit organizations to provide mentoring and other transitional services to people with psychiatric disabilities in order to increase success in jail/prison reentry:

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people with psychiatric disabilities who are released from prison and jail and returning to communities. There are currently over 2.3 million individuals serving time in federal and state prisons, and millions of people cycling through local jails every year. Research shows, many of these people are people with psychiatric disabilities. Ninety-five percent of all prisoners incarcerated today will eventually be released and will return to communities. Section 211 of the Act authorizes grants to nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Indian tribes that may be used for mentoring projects to promote the successful reintegration into the community of individuals who have been incarcerated.

Please see the information below about an important new grant opportunity announced on Thursday April 23, 2009 for "Mentoring Grants to Nonprofit Organizations" under the Second Chance Act.

These grants are to provide mentoring and other transitional services that increase success in reentry and reduce recidivism, including housing, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, and post-release case management. Applicants are limited to nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Indian tribes. All applications are due by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 21, 2009. For more information on the Bureau of Justice’s (BJA) implementation of the Second Chance Act initiatives and Frequently Asked Questions, visit Bureau of Justice Assistance's Second Chance Act web page.

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from prison and jail and returning to communities. There are currently over 2.3 million individuals serving time in federal and state prisons, and millions of people cycling through local jails every year. Ninety-five percent of all prisoners incarcerated today will eventually be released and will return to communities. Section 211 of the Act authorizes grants to nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Indian tribes that may be used for mentoring projects to promote the safe and successful reintegration into the community of individuals who have been incarcerated.

Mentoring of offenders is a significant component or element of a successful reentry strategy. Program components of a project proposal must include mentoring adult offenders during incarceration, through transition back to the community, and post-release; transitional services to assist in the reintegration of offenders into the community; and training regarding offender and victims issues. Mentoring can take many forms: it may consist of a one-to-one relationship or can sometimes occur in a smaller group setting. It is anticipated that the mentoring component of a project will be delivered/provided in both a pre-release and post-release environment.

Applicant agencies/organizations are expected to demonstrate their capability to deliver or broker the provision of transitional services proposed to be offered in conjunction with the core mentoring component. Examples of "transitional services" designed to increase success in reentry and thus reduce recidivism might include the establishment of a pre-release mentoring relationship, housing, education, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, services to enhance family reunification, job training and readiness, and post-release case management.

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact: Dr. Gary L. Dennis, Senior Policy Advisor, at 202–305–9059 or gary.dennis@usdoj.gov. This application must be submitted through Office of Justice Programs' Grants Management System (GMS). For technical assistance with submitting the application call the Grants Management System Support Hotline at 1–888–549–9901, option 3. For step-by-step GMS guidance, please utilize OJP's online Grants Management System training tool.

This 'Mental Health E-News' posting is a service of the New York Ass'n of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, a statewide coalition of people who use and/or provide community mental health services dedicated to improving services and social conditions for people with psychiatric disabilities by promoting their recovery, rehabilitation and rights. To join our list, please click on the E-News Subscription button.