Technical Assistance and Support Services to Improved Reentry Demonstration Grantees

The vast majority of the approximately 10,000 individuals returning to the community from prison each week lack the education and skills required for even entry-level employment. Research from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) indicates a link between academic failure and delinquency, violence and crime. Those reentering the community after incarceration face a system of silos between corrections, education and the workforce system. This contract sought to support reentry education models based on the best available evidence and theory and build on Department work in this area.

The Department awarded demonstration grants to nine community organizations. This contract provided technical assistance to these grantees to increase information sharing and enhance outcomes. New Editions served as a member of the team to provide meeting planning and logistical support as well as disability expertise. We coordinated the meeting logistics to host discussions among the nine grantees that informed technical assistance activities and improved information sharing across the grantees. We also developed and delivered technical assistance to facilitate meeting the needs of individuals with diagnosed and undiagnosed disabilities, offering webinars and web-based resources to ensure identification of individual’s needs and access to appropriate services to promote success.