FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE How Does the National Reentry Resource Center Support My Second Chance Act Grant Activities? How do I find out about technical assistance opportunities available through the NRRC? Will representatives of the NRRC be visiting my site? When will I receive information about the national training event I’m required to attend? What resources are available to support the success of my grant? What resources specifically related to juvenile justice and reentry are available on the NRRC website? Who can I call with questions or requests for technical assistance?
How Does the National Reentry Resource Center Support My Second Chance Act Grant Activities? The National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) provides technical assistance to help grantees make the most of their federal grant dollars to support sustainable, successful, and evidence-based reentry initiatives. Since the NRRC was launched in 2009, it has provided support to each of the more than 600 Second Chance Act (SCA) grantees—a variety of state, local, and tribal government agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations—that offer a range of services to various adult and juvenile target populations. Despite differences among programs, the technical assistance available from the NRRC focuses on four key components that reflect federal priorities for the SCA grant program: 1. The formation of strong, collaborative relationships at the state and local level, across all branches of government, and among service systems to plan and implement comprehensive approaches to improving reentry policies and practices. 2. The integration of rigorous practices to: o o o o
measure progress on reducing recidivism rates and improving other reentry outcomes; analyze data; share essential information with policymakers and practitioners; and use data to guide reentry policy, practice, and resource allocation.
3. The adoption and effective implementation of core principles and practices demonstrated by research to reduce recidivism and improve other reentry outcomes, including an emphasis on the principles of Risk, Need, and Responsivity.
4. The development of reentry programs, policies, and practices that are sustainable, replicable, and foster long-term improvements to reentry recidivism rates and other reentry outcomes. Each grantee is assigned to a member of the NRRC juvenile justice program staff (i.e., a technical assistance provider) who will provide support throughout the course of the grant. Your NRRC contact will provide technical assistance that responds to the unique opportunities, challenges, and objectives of your grant program and your proposed grant activities. Below are just a few examples of the assistance available through the NRRC.
The NRRC Can ...
By Providing ...
… connect grantees to research and materials, learning opportunities, and outside expertise …
• a library of publications, tools, and news items on reentry, whether overall or specifically on juvenile reentry • regular distance learning opportunities (e.g., webinars) with national practitioners and academic experts • individual consultation with subject matter experts and experienced practitioners
… support your team’s planning and implementation through on-and off-site technical assistance …
• a Planning and Implementation Guide that details the elements needed for a successful reentry initiative and offers a roadmap for assessing and improving your reentry policies and practices • insights on roadblocks that past SCA grantees have encountered and strategies used to work around them • advice, templates, checklists, and tools for assessing your system, and developing a strategic plan to prioritize, implement, and sustain your efforts
… link to your peers …
• hosted peer learning forums as well as referrals to peers and past SCA recipients with similar programs and objectives. • forums to publicize your programs’ work and to learn from the work of your peers. • a national technical assistance and training conference dedicated to reentry during the first year of your grant
How do I find out about technical assistance opportunities available through the NRRC? Your NRRC contact will reach out to you soon to schedule a preliminary phone call to discuss your grant activities and orient you to the NRRC. He or she will regularly provide information about training, distance learning, and funding opportunities. In addition to the information you receive from your NRRC contact, the NRRC also distributes a monthly newsletter that provides information about the latest reentry news and research, as well as information about other reentry initiatives from around the country. We encourage the staff and partners associated with each SCA grant to sign up for the NRRC newsletter at csgjusticecenter.org. For information on juvenile justicespecific topics, be sure to select “reentry� as a topic of interest.
Will representatives of the NRRC be visiting my site?
Representatives from the NRRC conduct site visits on a case-by-case basis. Though most grantees receive at least one visit, more intensive system-reform planning grantees may receive more than one visit. Through site visits, the NRRC staff are able to conduct an in-depth review of programs, provide training and facilitation to help grantees address pressing challenges, and, in some circumstances, provide on-site access to expert consultants focusing on specific areas of interest. Your NRRC contact will work with you to determine whether and when a site visit may be helpful to advance your project.
When will I receive information about the national training event I’m required to attend? The NRRC is planning a national conference, tentatively scheduled (pending approval from the U.S. Department of Justice) to take place March 9–11, 2015. Please keep this date available. This event will provide keynote addresses from leading national policymakers, researchers, and practitioners; breakout sessions that address a wide variety of reentry topics including workshops specifically geared toward grantees working with youth populations; and networking opportunities for grantees. More information about this national training event will be distributed soon.
What resources are available to support the success of my grant? As the designated technical assistance provider for the SCA program, NRRC staff work with a network of partners dedicated to the success of your project, including: 1. The federal agency that awarded your grant. Each grantee has a dedicated grant program manager in the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Your grant manager is identified in your grant award documentation. Your OJJDP program specialist is available to help you navigate the grant management process, including award acceptance, budget approval, and grant management requirements, and can also help answer questions such as: o How do I make changes to the scope of my project? o How do I make changes to the budget submitted with our application? o How do I access the Justice Department’s grant management system? o How do I know if the proposed program or fiscal changes are allowable? 2. The federal partner that manages OJJDP’s performance measurement system. You will soon hear from CSR Incorporated, the organization that administers OJJDP’s Data Reporting Tool (DCTAT). As an OJJDP grantee, you will be required to provide performance data and other updates on your progress regularly throughout your grant. More information about the DCTAT, including sample performance measures for your grant program, is available at ojjdp-dctat.org. A representative at the DCTAT Helpdesk, available at ojjdp-dctat@csrincorporated.com or 1-866-487-0512, can also answer questions such as: o What kind of data will I be required to provide? o How do I access the DCTAT system? o Who do I contact if I’m having trouble entering my data?
What resources specifically related to juvenile justice and reentry are available on the NRRC website? The NRRC website is a clearinghouse of information related to reentry strategies. It promotes a variety of distancelearning opportunities, such as webinars, podcasts, and written documents. Key resources available to meet the specific needs of grantees working to improve juvenile reentry outcomes include: 1. Core Principles for Reducing Recidivism and Improving Other Outcomes for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System. This 2014 report from the Council of State Governments Justice Center (CSG Justice Center) provides in-depth research and recommendations on what works to reduce juvenile reentry recidivism and improve other youth outcomes. It also provides practice- and research-based insights on
how to implement the principles effectively, as well as examples of how state and local juvenile justice systems have operationalized the principles through their own reforms. The full report is available at csgjusticecenter.org/youth/publications/juvenile-justice-white-paper/. 2. Measuring and Using Juvenile Recidivism Data to Inform Policy, Practice, and Resource Allocation. This CSG Justice Center report, also from 2014, provides key recommendations and useful guidance for improving jurisdictional approaches to the measurement, analysis, collection, reporting, and use of recidivism data for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. The full report is available at csgjusticecenter.org/youth/publications/measuring-juvenile-recidivism/. 3. The NRRC’s Juvenile Reentry page provides an array of the most rigorous external research, resources, guidebooks, and tools available on what works to improve youth reentry outcomes. 4. The CSG Justice Center’s Youth Program Page provides further information on juvenile justice, school discipline, and juvenile correctional education.
Who can I call with questions or requests for technical assistance? You have been assigned to a NRRC technical assistance provider. Your NRRC contact is available at any time to answer questions, and will reach out regularly to assist you in completing your Planning and Implementation Guide, follow the progress of your project, and offer guidance and support. Your NRRC contact was provided in the initial email you received from the CSG Justice Center. If you are uncertain who your NRRC contact is, please contact Josh Weber, CSG Justice Center Juvenile Justice program director, at jweber@csg.org.