fy15-planning-solicitation-webinar by CSG Justice Center

Second Chance Act Grants: Responding to the FY15 Statewide Adult Recidivism Reduc>on (SRR) Strategic Planning Program Solicita>on Brought to you by the Na9onal Reentry Resource Center and the Bureau of Jus9ce Assistance, U.S. Department of Jus9ce

Speakers •  Heather Tubman-Carbone, Ph.D., Policy Analyst National Reentry Resource Center, CSG Justice Center

•  Ruby Qazilbash, Associate Deputy Director Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice

•  Jay Neal, Director Georgia Governor's Office of Transition, Support and Reentry

Quick Poll for AEendees We’d like to find out more about who’s on the line. In your right hand column at the bottom, you will see two questions: 1.  Please indicate your type of organization •  •  •  •

State correctional agency State community correctional agency State Administering Agency Other

2.  Choose the state in which you work from the list.

Agenda •  SRR Program Overview •  Program Requirements & Expectations •  Apply for a FY15 SRR Planning Grant •  Questions & Answers

The Second Chance Act •  Public Law 110-199 signed into law on April 8, 2008 •  Authorizes grants to state, local, and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations to support programs, policies and practices that reduce recidivism

Origins of SRR: Responding to Recidivism Overall, recidivism rates have remained stubbornly high. A number of states have made significant progress in reducing recidivism – but it’s difficult to accomplish. *Interstate comparisons should be avoided due to the complexities of these statistics and the policies underlying them.

Scope of SRR Purpose: to fund, at the state level, effective strategies for reducing recidivism and enhancing public safety Target Population

Types of Investments

•  Focus on broad population with disproportionately high recidivism rates.

•  System wide policy reforms o  Resource alloca9on decisions o  Supervision intensity

Policy Focus Areas

•  Building capacity o  Staﬀ skill development o  IT infrastructure o  Case management and assessment tools o  Quality assurance processes

•  Risk and need assessmentdriven case planning •  Quality programming that targets criminogenic needs •  Effective supervision practices

SRR Grant Program Opportuni>es •  Mechanism for bringing together stakeholders and developing a statewide strategic reentry plan o  Can also be used to build on an existing plan or tie together related initiatives across the state

•  High profile opportunity to bring attention to a Governor’s recidivism reduction goals •  Up to $3 million in funding may be available to implement your state’s reentry plan

SRR Program Phases Phase 1: Planning and Capacity-Building Up to 7 grantees in FY2015

Must complete planning phase to be eligible for Phase II

Phase II: Implementation Up to 3 Grantees in FY 2016

Competitive – not all planning grantees will be awarded implementation awards

FY15 Grants to Support Phase 1: Planning and Capacity Building 1.  Establishing a Collaborative Decision-Making Body and Planning Process 2.  Taking a Data-Driven Approach to Recidivism Reduction Goal-Setting and Planning 3.  Assessing current recidivism reduction policies and implementation gaps and barriers 4.  Developing an SRR Implementation Proposal

SRR Grantee States FY2012–14

Alaska

Iowa*

Minnesota*

Pennsylvania

Arkansas*

Kansas*

New York

Rhode Island

Georgia*

Louisiana

North Dakota

Vermont*

Illinois*

Michigan

Ohio

West Virginia

* received more than one SRR grant

SRR is a Unique Grant Program “Unlike grants that support programming for a small subset of the population, the SRR program can empower corrections administrators to impact recidivism statewide through sustainable policy and procedural changes.” — A.T. Wall, Director, Rhode Island Department of Corrections “Following an intensive and collaborative planning and evaluation process, this grant brings resources to bear that will improve collaboration with various stakeholders across Iowa, advance evidence-based practices, and enhance staff training. This project is designed to be self-sustaining, resulting in long-term recidivism reduction well beyond the project end date.” — John Baldwin, Director, Iowa Department of Corrections 13

An Example of Reform from FY13 & 14 Grantee: Georgia •  Review and update policies on supervision standards and utilization of graduated sanctions based on risk-needs assessment •  Review and updated case management policies and provide training for staff on core correctional practices, MI, etc. •  Augment evidence based programming within facilities by creating an “evidence based learning” facility •  Implement program quality assurance measures and create more incentives for community-based partners to use EBPs in contracts •  Improve information sharing capacity among agencies and community stakeholders. 14

Agenda •  SRR Program Overview •  Program Requirements & Expectations •  Apply for a FY15 SRR Planning Grant •  Questions & Answers

SRR Solicita>on •  Solicitation is available at: www.bja.gov/Funding/ 15SCARecidivismReductionSol.pdf •  Applications are due on March 10, 2015. •  For information about other Second Chance Act funding opportunities, visit https://www.bja.gov/Funding.aspx or http://www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/about/ second-chance-act. 16

Applicants •  Limited to state correctional agencies (state departments of corrections or community corrections) or State Administering Agencies. •  Agencies from states that were awarded SCA SRR grants in FY 2013 are not eligible to apply. •  The next potential opportunity to apply for an SRR Planning grant will be FY2017.

Award Informa>on Award Amount and Length Up to 7 awards of up to $100,000 each for a 12-month project period, beginning on October 1, 2015. Future Year Funding: Implementation Awards BJA will invite states that receive FY2015 awards to apply for implementation funding as early as FY 2016. Pending available funds, BJA anticipates making up to 3 implementation awards, of $1 million each, with possible supplemental awards of $1 million each in FY2017 and FY2018. Match requirement 50/50 cash match. (See pages 11-12 for details.)

Goals, Objec>ves, and Deliverables •  Develop statewide recidivism reduction strategic plans to: o  Identify drivers of recidivism in the state; o  Identify a target population and recidivism reduction goals for the state; o  Review the alignment of existing corrections programs and practices with evidence-based practices; and o  Meet statewide recidivism reduction goals using evidence-based practices. 19

Goals, Objec>ves, and Deliverables •  Effective strategies for reducing statewide recidivism and enhancing public safety incorporate the following principles: o  Focus on individuals most likely to recidivate; o  Use evidenced-based programs and ensure the delivery of services is high quality; o  Deploy supervision policies and practices that balance sanctions and treatment; and o  Target places where crime and recidivism rates are the highest. Resource: See the National Reentry Resource Center for Recidivism Reduction Checklists, developed to help state leaders evaluate their reentry efforts and develop recidivism reduction plans. 20

Goals, Objec>ves, and Deliverables For purposes of this solicitation, recidivism can be defined in accordance with the definition utilized by the applicant agency. This definition must be clearly articulated in the application and evidence of an established historical baseline recidivism rate provided. Also, document the capacity to continue to track the recidivism rate according to the definition provided during the project period and beyond.

Mandatory Requirements All projects are required to include eleven components within their proposal materials related to recidivism reduction goals and reentry strategies, establishment of a Reentry Task Force, collaboration with local partners, and measurement and evaluation strategies.

Mandatory Requirements, Components 1-‐4 1.  A reentry strategic plan that describes the jurisdiction’s long-term reentry strategy, including measurable annual and 5-year performance outcomes. 2.  A detailed reentry implementation schedule and sustainability plan for the program. 3.  Documentation to reflect the establishment and ongoing engagement of, a Reentry Task Force comprised of relevant state, tribal, or local leaders and relevant agencies, service providers, nonprofit organizations, and other key stakeholders. 4.  Discussion of the role of local governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, continuums of care, state or local interagency councils on homelessness, and community stakeholders that will collaborate during the planning and implementation of the reentry strategy. 23

Mandatory Requirements, Components 5-‐7 5.  Extensive evidence of collaboration with state and local government agencies overseeing a multitude of domains, including mental health, housing, child welfare, education, substance abuse, victims services, and employment services, and with local law enforcement agencies. 6.  An extensive discussion of the role of state corrections departments, community corrections agencies, and local jail corrections systems in ensuring successful reentry of adults leaving incarceration into their communities. 7.  Documentation that reflects explicit support of the chief executive officer of the applicant state, territory, or Indian tribe and how this office will remain informed and connected to the activities of the project.

Mandatory Requirements, Components 8-‐11 8.  A description of the evidence-based methodology and outcome measures that will be used to evaluate the program and a discussion of how such measurements will provide a valid impact assessment. 9.  A description of how the project could be broadly replicated if demonstrated to be effective. 10.  A plan for the analysis of the statutory, regulatory, rules-based, and practice-based hurdles to reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals into the community. Resource: American Bar Association (ABA) National Study on the Collateral Consequences of Criminal Convictions catalogues statutes and administrative rules that contain a collateral consequence at www.abacollateralconsequences.org.

11.  A baseline recidivism rate for the proposed target population including documentation to support the development of the rate. 25

Planning & Capacity Building Requirements Successful applicants will develop a planning and capacity-building approach in order to develop a sound organizational infrastructure to support targeted programmatic interventions which should result in the desired reduction in overall recidivism. The first step will be the development of a strategic plan. The process for developing this plan will be guided by a Planning and Implementation Guide, provided by BJA’s technical assistance provider, the National Reentry Resource Center, coordinated by the Council of State Governments Justice Center. This guide will help ensure that grantees meet the requirements for the planning and capacity-building phase. In discussing the planning and capacity building phase, applicants should address eight requirements.

Planning & Capacity Building Requirements 1.  Provide a statewide definition of recidivism, explain how that rate is calculated and reported to policymakers; demonstrate the capability to access and obtain data. 2.  Define realistic, but ambitious, goals to reducing recidivism within a 2-year period. 3.  Demonstrate interest among state government leaders, including the governor, state legislators, and court officials, to participate in an SRR task force. 4.  Review the state’s strengths and areas for improvement regarding strategies demonstrated to change behavior and reduce recidivism, including risk/need assessment, program quality assurance, and effective supervision strategies. 5.  Describe what the state will do over a 12-month planning grant period to identify what policy and practice changes are necessary to improve those strategies. 6.  Demonstrate a commitment to share data and work closely with BJA’s technical assistance provider, the National Reentry Resource Center. 7.  Demonstrate a commitment, if implementation funds are awarded later, to hire an experienced full-time coordinator to facilitate implementation of the state’s plan. 8.  Describe what, if any, types of intensive technical assistance would be of particular value to the state as it develops its strategic plan.

Data Collec>on and Local Research Partners Applicants are encouraged to consider a partnership with a local research organization that can assist with data collection, performance measurement, and local evaluations. Resource: e-Consortium for University Centers and Researchers for Partnership with Justice Practitioners. The purpose of this e-Consortium is to provide a resource to local, state, federal, and other groups who seek to connect to nearby (or other) university researchers and centers on partnerships and projects that are mutually beneficial to the criminal justice community. The e-Consortium can be found online at www.gmuconsortium.org/.

Technical Assistance Resources Intensive and targeted technical assistance will be available from the National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) to assist in both the completion of a strategic plan and a diagnosis of any systemic deficits which may need to be rectified, such as training appropriate staff in the use of evidenced-based practices including risk/needs assessments. Through these activities the NRRC will assist with the design of a comprehensive, statewide strategic plan, which will include a measurable, ambitious, but realistic, goal for reducing recidivism statewide (e.g., reduce recidivism among parolees by 10 percent in 2 years).

Agenda •  SRR Program Overview •  Program Requirements & Expectations •  Apply for a FY15 SRR Planning Grant •  Questions & Answers

What An Applica>on Should Include & Selec>on Criteria (%)

•  Abstract

•  Program Narra9ve that includes: o  Statement of the Problem (15%) o  Program Design and Implementa9on (35%) o  Capabili9es and Competencies (25%) o  Impact/Outcomes, Evalua9on, and Sustainment (10%) o  Plan to Collect Data Required for Performance Measures (5%) •  Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narra9ve (10%) •  Addi9onal Adachments

See pages 14-‐21 for a full list of applica;on requirements. 31

Statement of the Problem (15%) •  Deﬁne the scope of the problem. •  Deﬁne recidivism, explain how the rate is calculated, tracked, and reported to policymakers. Iden9fy and explain the current rate. •  Describe the state’s recidivism reduc9on strategy to date. •  Describe the state’s current ability to target supervision and resources consistent with individuals’ risk and need level. •  Describe the state’s current ability to ensure supervision and service quality, consistency, 9ming, and dosage are appropriate. •  Describe the geographic areas to which the highest concentra9on of released prisoners return. •  Provide evidence of an established historical baseline recidivism rate and how the applicant will document the capacity to con9nue to track the recidivism rate during the length of the project period and beyond. 32

Program Design and Implementa>on (35%) •  Clearly articulate the recidivism reduction goal for this project. •  Describe the data sets to be accessed during the planning period. •  Address the Planning and Capacity Building criteria (pages 6-7). •  Present a statewide strategic planning process. Include development of a measurable, ambitious but realistic, goal for reducing recidivism. •  Include recommended changes in policy and practice, and a work plan to implement and build statewide support for those changes. •  Describe how a target population will be identified for service delivery and describe how services will be delivered. •  Address all of the Mandatory Requirements (pages 5-7).

Capabili>es and Competencies (25%) •  Describe the management structure and staffing of the project, identify the agency responsible for the project and the project coordinator. •  Demonstrate the executive leadership commitment to the development and adherence to a Statewide Recidivism Reduction Plan. •  Demonstrate the capability of the implementing agency and collaborative partners to implement the project, including gathering and analyzing information, developing a plan, and evaluating the program.

Plan to Collect Data Required for the Solicita>on’s Performance Measures (5%) Describe the process for assessing the project’s effectiveness through the collection and reporting of the required performance metrics data (see “Performance Measures,” page 15). •  Reentry strategic plan status •  Data collection plan status •  Reentry task force composition •  Reentry population

•  •  •  •

Anticipated capacity Risk and needs assessment Baseline recidivism Recidivism rate reduction

Impact/Outcomes, Evalua>on, & Sustainment (10%) •  Identify goals and objectives for the strategic planning process, including development, implementation, and outcomes. •  Describe how performance will be documented, monitored, and evaluated; identify the impact of the strategy once implemented. •  Outline what data and information will be collected and describe how evaluation and collaborative partnerships will be leveraged to build long-term support and resources for the program. •  Discuss how this effort will be integrated into the state justice system plans or commitments, how the program will be financially sustained, and expected long-term results for the program.

Budget (10%) •  Submit a budget that is complete, cost effective, and allowable (e.g., reasonable, allocable, and necessary for project activities). •  Include an appropriate percent of the total grant award for research, data collection, performance measurement, and performance assessment. •  Budget funding to travel to one DOJ-sponsored grant meeting. Applicants should estimate the costs of travel and accommodations for a team of three to attend one meeting for three days each in Washington D.C.

Addi>onal AEachments •  Project Timeline with each project goal, related objective, activity, expected completion date, and responsible person/organization. •  Position Descriptions for key positions. •  Letters of Support from all key partners, detailing the commitment to work with the applicant to promote the mission of the project. •  Disclosure of Pending Applications •  Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (if applicable) See pages 18-19. 38

Contact Informa>on For questions about the process of submitting an application: Contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 1-800-518-4726 or via e-mail to support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline hours of operation are 24 hours, 7 days a week, except federal holidays. For questions about specific requirements of the solicitation: Contact the BJA Justice Information Center at 1-877-927-5657, via email to JIC@telesishq.com, or by live web chat. The BJA Justice Information Center hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. eastern time on the solicitation close date.

Agenda •  SRR Program Overview •  Program Requirements & Expectations •  Apply for a FY15 SRR Planning Grant •  Questions & Answers

Ques>ons and Answers Instructions To ask a written question, enter it in the Q&A panel on the bottom right-hand side of your screen. If you did not dial in by phone, you must use this option to ask a question. To ask your question out loud, click on the “raise your hand” button on the top right-hand side of your screen under the participant names, and we will unmute your line.