Second Chance Act Funding Available

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) at the U.S. Department of Justice has announced two Second Chance Act funding opportunities. The Second Chance Act of 2007 aims to provide incarcerated youth and adults with access to supports and opportunities that will ensure they make a safe and healthy transition to their communities. According to BJA, more than 2.2 million individuals are currently incarcerated federal and state prisons. With 95 percent of these individuals expected to return to their communities, the Second Chance Act funding can provide youth and adults with various opportunities, including job skill development and access to substance abuse and mental health services.

Second Chance Act Technology Career Training Grant Program
Recognizing that incarcerated individuals often face barriers to employment upon release, the Technology Career Training Grant Program aims to help youth and adults gain the skills needed to secure jobs and avoid recidivism upon release. Specifically, the job training program will focus job skills in technology-based fields, including computer-assisted design in engineering and construction, information technology, green technology, wireless and broadband deployment and computer science. In addition, funds may be used to support other job training supports, including basic skills training, career counseling and reentry planning.

Priority consideration will be given to applicants who:

• Propose training programs that provide participants with industry-recognized certificates;
• Provide ongoing training to employers and potential employers on successful approaches to working with trainees/employees in the program;
• Leverage private, local, state federal or tribal resources (cash or in-kind) to support the program.

To learn more about this opportunity, including the need for applicants to demonstrate their data collection and analysis capacity, check out the grant announcement.

Eligible applicants include states, units of local government, territories, and federally recognized Indian tribes (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior). Applications are due March 17, 2014.

Second Chance Act Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders Grant Program
According to BJA, more than 50 percent of incarcerated individuals have reported using drugs prior to their admission to prison. Similarly, BJA reports that 16 percent of incarcerated individuals struggle with mental illness. Recognizing the importance of coordinating substance abuse and mental health treatment with case planning, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders Grant Program provides communities with an opportunity to help individuals achieve their treatment goals. Program funds can be used to increase the screening and assessment that takes place during incarceration and improve the provision of treatment to adults with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders after incarceration.

To learn more about this opportunity, including the need for applicants to demonstrate their data collection and analysis capacity, check out the grant announcement.

Eligible applicants include states, units of local government, territories, and federally recognized Indian tribes (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior). Applications are due March 18, 2014.