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Happy New Year, Maryland! We are looking forward to another great year of connecting justice-involved individuals to the services and support that they need.
The Justice Reinvestment Team at the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP) aims to increase information and resource-sharing, while creating and fostering a statewide-online community Newsletter.
- Reentry Programming and Services
- Behavioral Health Treatment and Services
- Support for Victims and Restitution Enhancements
- Training and Education
- Safe Alternatives to Incarceration
- Pretrial Services and Programs
Please note that the Newsletter organizes all updates in chronological order under its subsections: Grants, Upcoming Events and Conferences, Meetings, Programs, and Other Information.
Zoom into the calendar for best viewing.
1. JCOIN Rapid Innovation Grants (J-RIG)
Call for Proposals opens January 5, 2025
Mark your calendars! Call for Proposals for the JCOIN Rapid Innovation Grant (J-RIG) program will be opening on January 5, 2025, with submissions due by April 1, 2025.
J-RIG provides funding to support small research projects to study newly emerging policies, practices or interventions that address the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders, as well as overdose risk, for individuals involved in criminal-legal settings. Project duration may be 6 to 24 months, with a maximum of $135,000 in total costs.
The program is open to researchers, practitioners, and community organizations that could benefit from funding to study local initiatives, policy changes, or practice improvement efforts. J-RIG projects are also appropriate for developmental pilots, feasibility studies, evaluations, or other research broadly defined as foundational work to further research and practice.
If you have any questions or would like support with the application, JCOIN’s Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Core can provide free assistance for those who are not as familiar with grant writing or need help with constructing research question(s), designs, data collection methods, or analyses. It is recommended that you write up to a 2-page memo outlining your questions. This will assist the TTA Core in providing you with the guidance that would best benefit your needs.
For additional information, please visit https://www.jcoinctc.org/resources/j-rig/
1. SAMHSA "Treating People Who Use Meth or Other Stimulants: Leveraging Contingency Management in Criminal Justice Settings" - Virtual Training
January 29, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. The GAINS Center focuses on expanding access to services for people with mental and/or substance use disorders who come into contact with the adult criminal justice system.
Contingency management is an evidence-based behavioral intervention proven effective in treating individuals with stimulant use disorders. This method leverages positive reinforcement to encourage specific target behaviors that reflect progress in treatment, such as attending sessions or maintaining abstinence. The webinar will address the scientific foundation of contingency management, common challenges associated with its implementation in criminal justice settings, and strategies for overcoming these barriers. Sustainable solutions for integrating contingency management into drug court and reentry programs, with an emphasis on its long-term benefits for individuals in recovery and the community, will also be discussed.
Click here to register.
1. The Maryland Statewide Alliance for Returning Citizens (MSARC)
January 28, 2025 at 9:30 AM; Recurring, every fourth Tuesday of the month via Zoom
MSARC comprises reentry service providers, returning citizens, advocates, government, corrections, and law enforcement staff working in reentry, and others who support increasing reentry resources. Meetings primarily consist of information sharing, guest speakers, and announcements about upcoming events of interest, aiming to break down silos. The next meeting will take place on January 28th, 2025 at 9:30 AM. The meetings are open to all with an interest in reentry. Please email Dawna Cobb, MSARC Co-Chair, at marylandreentry@outlook.com to be added to the MSARC email list and to receive the Zoom link for meetings.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Identity Access Project
Flikshop
Flikshop aims to ease the process of sending postcards to incarcerated individuals. Founded by Marcus Bullock, a formerly incarcerated individual himself, the company fights recidivism by keeping families connected, so that individuals foster successful reentry, once released. We focus on families and their loved ones affected by incarceration, and assist them with technology that helps to leverage their relationships. Likewise, Flikshop has grown to connect businesses that work to build social impact strategies and community engagement teams that work to combat mass incarceration.
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Mindset Care specializes in assisting individuals and caregivers with SSI and SSDI applications. Our streamlined online process reduces the application time from 4-6 weeks to just 1 hour. We charge a one-time fee, equivalent to 25% of the claimant's back pay, mandated by the SSA office. There are no recurring fees or monthly charges for claimants. Our services include full legal representation, dedicated case managers, and access to a licensed psychologist.
We manage the entire application process from initial filing to appeals, ensuring a seamless experience for claimants. Our partnership with TruConnect also offers qualified claimants a federally subsidized cell phone. Noteworthy points about Mindset Care:
- No charge to our partners or your organization
- No fee if the claimant's application is not accepted
- Management of all necessary medical records and correspondence
- Focus on securing stable income, benefits, and housing opportunities for claimants
Contact Kian Ronnasi at kronnasi@mindset.care with any questions.
Project ENCORE (P-ENCORE) is the Pratt Library's new restorative justice program which aims to dismantle institutional barriers and social reintegration challenges that lead to recidivism. There are three parts to P-ENCORE: Workforce Development, Digital Equity, and the Reconnection Center. Our mission is to empower formerly incarcerated individuals by equipping them with the essential tools to thrive as productive members of society. We adopt a comprehensive approach by seamlessly connecting participants with Pratt's existing wrap-around services, including housing, substance abuse rehabilitation, social work, and more, addressing their mental, emotional, financial, and physical well-being. See here for more information on their extensive programming. Our Multi-Tiered approach is designed to:
- Foster generational wealth and leave a lasting legacy.
- Provide a stable source of income for participants.
- Offer support for housing and transportation needs.
- Create safe, inclusive spaces for open dialogue about barriers and mental health challenges.
- Enhance self-esteem and boost participants' sense of pride and self-worth.
If you're interested in volunteering, partnering, or becoming a participant in any of our initiatives, please reach out to swalker@prattlibrary.org or kbailey@prattlibrary.org.
Description of this workbook from the author, Vanessa Bright, Executive Director of the Maryland Reentry Resource Center:
"I created this workbook because I believe that reentry should begin the day after a person enter the correctional facility to serve his or her sentence. Instead, too often the process does not begin until a few months before release. This workbook focuses on soft skills, which we can take wherever we go in life, no matter what we do. Soft skills characterize how a person interacts in relationships with others, including communication, time management, problem-solving, and conflict resolution."
Click here for more information.
Baltimore Veteran Reentry Resources
The Baltimore Station
Know a veteran who is soon to be released with a substance use disorder? The Baltimore Station provides wraparound support programs for homeless veterans that has a workforce program, and a free residential program. Click here for more information, and contact James Hardy at outreach@baltimorestation.org with any questions.
Housing in Prince George's County
DXT Therapeutic Foundation
Offers shared transitional wrap around housing in Prince George's County. Call (240)-838-3707 or Michelle Hare at (240)-676-2895 for assistance.
Housing in Baltimore City
Sheppard Pratt
Sheppard Pratt is offering a new residential treatment program for clients with co-occuring disorders. They offer rent support and other resources for apartments in Baltimore City. For more information, contact Ziva Ritchie at (410)-382-5426.
Additional Housing Options
St. Ambrose
Four new housing spots/beds are available in partnership with Jacob's Well for justice-involved youth ages 18-24. Please contact Shalawn James at St. Ambrose for more information at shalawnj@stambros.org.
To be included in February's Newsletter, please make your submission by COB Monday, January 27th, 2025.
For more information and to make your February submission, visit the Submission Page here or send it to justice.reinvestment@maryland.gov.
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