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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. Maryland Office of Overdose Response FY26 Competitive Grant Program
Application Deadline: February 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response is pleased to announce our Competitive Grant Program for fiscal year (FY) 2026! The purpose of our Competitive Grant Program is to distribute funding to the highest-scoring proposals that align with Maryland’s strategic overdose response priorities and address areas of greatest need across the state.
Eligible applicants include state and local government entities and private and not-for-profit community-based organizations. The funding available for the Competitive Grant Program in FY 2026 is approximately $6 million.
The application deadline for FY26 proposals is February 28, 2025, at 5 p.m. EST. Interested parties should review the Request for Proposals. The document includes key dates, application instructions, evaluation standards, funding specifications, reporting requirements, and other information to complete the application process. Please contact Khalil Cutair at Khalil.Cutair@Maryland.gov with further questions. All applications should be submitted via this Smartsheet form.
For additional information, please visit: https://stopoverdose.maryland.gov/grants/
1. Project ENCORE ReCOUP Business Accelerator Spring Cohort - Baltimore, Maryland
First Class: February 3, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
ReCOUP Business Accelerator Program will equip formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted individuals with the tools they need to become successful entrepreneurs. This is an 8-week program with an attendance requirement of 2 days totaling 3 hours a week. In the program, they will learn all of the necessary skills to build, maintain and have a thriving business. The program will also include Exposure Workshops, where participants will have the opportunity to attend workshops specific to their trade. At the conclusion of the program, there will be a pitch competition for participants to pitch their business ideas to industry experts and entrepreneurs for start-up advice and potential mentorship. Pratt will also assist each graduate with the costs to register their business legally in the State of Maryland.
The classes will take place in the Central Library located at 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.
For more information, contact Project ENCORE at projectencore@prattlibrary.org
2. Free Workforce Training for Returning Citizens - Temple Hills, Maryland
Information Sessions on February 5, 2025 & February 11, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
First Class: February 24, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
The Returning Citizens Affairs Division (RCAD) provides countywide coordination and oversight for Prince George’s County’s network of services for returning citizens. These services include but are not limited to community engagement, policy, advocacy, research, resource development, and programmatic assessments.
RCAD’s Welcome Home to Prince George’s is an innovative workforce development initiative designed to support returning citizens—individuals who have been incarcerated for five or more years and released within the last 12–18 months.
Designed in partnership with Employ Prince George’s (EPG), Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) and Training Grounds, Welcome Home to Prince George’s is created to transform lives. This tuition-free certification experience provides participants with stipends, supportive services, training, and resources needed to secure stable, long-term employment and improve their life trajectories.
Classes start on February 24th, 2025, and there will be two information sessions held in February prior to the start of classes.
For more information and to register, please visit: https://traininggroundsinc.org/WelcomeHome/
3. Embrace Community Reentry Center Housing Resource Fair - Baltimore, Maryland
February 12, 2025 from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM
EMBRACE is an initiative of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Their mission is to partner with community groups to create a world that is safe, just, and equitable.
EMBRACE Initiative and Return Home Baltimore are hosting a housing resource fair for returning citizens on February 12th. Meet background friendly landlords, learn about vouchers, home sharing, rental assistance, and more.
For more information, call 410-706-1099 or email embracereentry@umaryland.edu.
4. RCAD Fatherhood Empowerment Initiative - Silver Hill, Maryland
First Session: February 20, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
The Returning Citizens Affairs Division (RCAD) provides countywide coordination and oversight for Prince George’s County’s network of services for returning citizens. These services include but are not limited to community engagement, policy, advocacy, research, resource development, and programmatic assessments.
Join us for a 6-month Rites of Passage program that will culminate with a graduation ceremony. The program starts February 20th and ends August 7th. Click here to register.
1. The Maryland Statewide Alliance for Returning Citizens (MSARC)
February 25, 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 February 25th, 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.
Gatekeepers
Gatekeepers is an organization that focuses on re-entry. Our mission is to motivate, empower, and encourage both current and ex-offenders through mentoring services by challenging them to make positive decisions and ultimately help facilitate the process of a successful transition back to their communities. These individuals often do not have positive role models in their life to aid them in their efforts. At Gatekeepers, our team is dedicated to helping people overcome obstacles standing in their way to achieving success and reaching their life goals.
Business of Living Workbook and Program: The Business of Living is the heart of what we do. It focuses on the Personal, Occupational, Educational, and Spiritual areas of your life. Under the supervision of our Director of Operations Keith Roys, Gatekeepers has created the Business of Living Workbook and uses it to help current and former inmates chart their re-entry path to success. Gatekeepers works with men and women currently incarcerated to get them started on their re-entry planning. Gatekeepers will then meet them at the gate on their day of release (if needed) and get them immediately started on implementing their re-entry plan.
Resource Club: The Saturday morning Gatekeepers Resource Club, held in the Fellowship Hall at Trinity Lutheran Church (15 Randolph Ave.), is where community resources get to connect with returning citizens. The doors open at 9:30 am for networking and coffee. The meeting starts at 10:00 am and runs until 11:00 am. Many people stay afterwards to continue networking and connecting with resource providers that were present. Organizations including the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, the Area Health Education Center - West (AHEC-W), the Washington County Health Department, CASA, and many more provide a wide array of assistance to meeting attendees.
For more information about the Business of Living program, the Resource Club, Gatekeepers’ community partners, and more, visit https://www.gatekeepersmd.org/ or email gatekeepers.wcmd@gmail.com
Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts - Victims of Crime Video Series
The Maryland Judiciary has produced a two-part video series on the rights and roles of victims of crime. The first video covers the role of victims in bringing criminal charges and in criminal cases, and the second video addresses the rights of victims of crime, hiring legal representation, receiving information about the criminal case, financial compensation, and the rights of sexual assault victims. Each video has Spanish captioning available and has an accompanying tip sheet that summarizes the key points of the videos and provides a list of resources. The videos and tip sheets are available at mdcourts.gov and are part of a wider Court Help Video Library at mdcourts.gov/videos.
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 March's Newsletter, please make your submission by COB Wednesday, February 26th, 2025.
For more information and to make your March submission, visit the Submission Page here or send it to justice.reinvestment@maryland.gov.
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