JRA Newsletter: May 2026
Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy sent this bulletin at 05/01/2026 01:02 PM EDT
Upcoming Events & Conferences1. EMBRACE Employment & Workforce Development Resource Fair - Baltimore, MarylandMay 6, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Join the EMBRACE Initiative for an Employment & Workforce Development Resource Fair on May 6th, 2026. The event will take place from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, at the UMB Community Engagement Center, 16 South Poppleton Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. Come for a wide variety of connections, consultations, resources, and referrals. Please contact embracereentry@umaryland.edu, 410-706-5693, or 410-706-3760 with any questions.
2. Update from the Field: Crisis Response and Co-Response to Support Individuals Experiencing Mental and Substance Use Disorders - VirtualMay 13, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PMA better understanding of calls for service across communities has accelerated the adoption of novel approaches that enable responses based on the level of need, reducing burdens on law enforcement and engaging callers with timely behavioral health support. Two models—mobile crisis response, which relies on a professional team responding without law enforcement, and co-response, which pairs behavioral health professionals with law enforcement—are demonstrating promising results in many communities. This webinar presented by SAMHSA's GAINS Center will highlight programs implemented in Denver, Colorado, and Durham, North Carolina, that support both mobile crisis response and co-response to ensure callers receive the level of support that is needed. The session will also examine current evidence on the outcomes and impacts of these promising programs. 3. Annual Reentry Resource & Career Fair - Baltimore, MarylandMay 22, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Join the Flowers Whiting Initiative and our partners for a powerful day of connection, opportunity, and support at the Reentry Resource and Career Fair. This event is designed to uplift individuals returning from the criminal justice system, as well as individuals who have experienced justice impacts, by providing access to essential resources and pathways to success. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with community organizations, employers, and service providers offering support in areas such as employment, education, legal assistance, expungement, mental health services, voter registration, and transitional housing. Free professional clothing will also be available to help participants prepare for job opportunities. This event is about more than resources. It is about restoring dignity, building stability, and strengthening families and communities through reentry support. Accompanied youth under 18 are encouraged to attend. The event will take place at The Factory, located at 5 North Calhoun Street, Baltimore, MD 21223. For more information, please contact Derrick Whiting at 443-940-8186 or info@theflowerswhitinginitiative.org. Meetings1. The Maryland Statewide Alliance for Returning Citizens (MSARC)May 26, 2026, at 9:30 AM; Recurring, every fourth Tuesday of the month via ZoomMSARC 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 May 26th, 2026 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. ProgrammingDPSCS Reentry Resources - 211 Maryland
DPSCS is proud to partner with 211 MD to bring to Marylanders information about reentry services that are available in all 24 jurisdictions that exist to help the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated, along with resources for family members. This partnership supports our goal to increase public safety and wellness, reducing recidivism. 211 MD is a first-of-its-kind statewide reentry resource database. Dial 211 to get connected to employment and community resources 24/7/365. Additionally, you can search for reentry resources from trusted organizations by ZIP code via https://211md.org/resources/mdreentry/. You can also sign up to receive text message updates for reentry information, services, programs, and events. Subscribe by texting reentry to 898-211.
PREPAREPREPARE is a Maryland based 501(c)(3) driven by justice impacted people. The mission is to empower people to make their best case for parole and develop and execute successful reentry plans. In March 2026, through GOCPP funding, PREPARE launched three courses on prison tablets through the Edovo platform. Edovo is the largest learning platform for incarcerated people. Its content is available to over 1.2 million people in the U.S. including in all the prisons and many of the jails in Maryland. PREPARE’s courses are:
In the first month that the courses have been live, there have been 5000 enrollments across the country with 1000 of those being in Maryland where PREPARE continues to also provide direct support with parole hearing and reentry preparation and post-release mentoring. The feedback on the courses is overwhelmingly positive:
People are clearly thirsty for exactly the kind of information and guidance which PREPARE exists to provide. Take a peek at the short video from our curriculum - it features PREPARE's very own Sara Citroni explaining why the first day you get to prison is the day you begin planning for a successful return to society. Watch this space for more information on PREPARE’s Edovo course offerings - or visit the website and sign up for the newsletter at https://prepare-parole.org. Dream Builders Foundation
Dream Builders Foundation provides free support and resources to at-risk youth and individuals returning home from incarceration. Through mentorship, workforce development, life coaching, and reentry services, we help people build stability, gain employment, and move forward. Mavrik Village
Mavrik Village is strengthening reentry outcomes by expanding access to stable, affordable housing for justice-impacted individuals — helping transform second chances into sustainable futures. Learn more about this growing community resource at www.mavrikvillage.org or 410.417.7222. NAARCWorks
NAARCWorks: Pathway to Opportunity is a workforce development initiative designed to connect returning citizens with career pathways, job readiness training, and employment opportunities. The program provides participants with practical skills development, career guidance, and access to local resources that support long-term economic mobility. Through workshops, networking opportunities, and hands-on training, NAARCWorks helps individuals strengthen their professional skills and move toward sustainable employment and career advancement. Chase Brexton's Reintegration and Resilience Program
H.O.P.E. Baltimore
Helping Oppressed People Excel (H.O.P.E.) Baltimore supports people facing the challenges of coming home after incarceration, led by people who have gone through the same transition. We have been working to ensure our people stay home successfully and permanently for almost 10 years, providing support and community to overcome the barriers of reentry. Reentry comes with significant barriers—securing stable housing, finding employment, accessing reliable transportation, and navigating legal and financial systems. H.O.P.E. helps remove these barriers by connecting returning citizens to essential resources, developing coping skills, and fostering strong community relationships that ease the stresses of life on the outside. At the heart of our work are our weekly mentoring and support dinners, where participants find a welcoming space, peer mentors, and practical assistance. Individuals receive bus passes, financial support, job placement assistance, and court and parole guidance, ensuring they have a solid foundation to rebuild their lives. H.O.P.E. is deeply committed to peer-led support, extensive community outreach, and access to wraparound services. Our work creates a pathway for returning citizens to thrive in their reentry journey. CORE Program
The CORE Program aims to provide immediate/same day access to quality medical care, including primary care and infectious disease care (including HIV and Hepatitis C treatment) on site at THRIVE. Additionally, on-site mental health and substance use assessments/screenings, triage and treatment are also available as well as access to Employment counseling and Housing services. Financial Assistance for things like rental assistance, food, and clothing also help to make community transitions easier. Community referrals to services not offered at THRIVE by a designated Re-entry Case Manager are a large part of our patient centered approach to re-entry services. These wraparound services are intended to address the social factors that most heavily impact recidivism rates. In addition to the tangible services CORE offers, the multi-disciplinary team approach enhances social support for those returning home and to their communities and families. EMBRACE Resource and Reentry Center
Marian House
Live, Inc.
Our Mission Empowering individuals to overcome challenges and embrace purpose, we provide holistic care that fosters recovery, personal growth, and stability. With a focus on emotional well-being, resilience, and self-expression, our services support healing and the development of new skills. Through compassionate support and essential resources, we help create the foundation for a healthier, more fulfilling life. Our Services
For more information please click here. Live Benevolent Behavioral Health
Our Mission At Live Benevolent, we provide aid and comfort to individuals, groups, and communities impacted by substance abuse, violence, tragedy, and traumatic events. We assist clients with life’s challenges including substance use disorders, relationship and behavioral issues, depression, anxiety, trauma, and daily living needs. Our Services Live Benevolent offers a wide range of support to young adults and their families, and men who battle mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
For more information please click here. Our Commitment At Live Benevolent, we are dedicated to strengthening lives, restoring hope, and supporting mental health and wellness across our community with compassion and care. 📢 We’re Hiring! Mental Health Therapist Provide assessments and therapy for adults and children navigating mental health and co-occurring challenges. Updates to Dorchester County Health Resources
HealthCare Access Maryland Returning Citizens Community Connections Program (RCCC)
The RCCC program is designed to reduce recidivism by addressing the health and social needs of Returning Citizens in Maryland. The RCCC program works with repeat offenders that are residing or returning to Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City or Baltimore County up to one year post release. 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. Saved2Serve Educational Services
Mission Statement: To teach, empower, improve, and transform the lives of returning citizens through education; specifically, by obtaining the General Educational Development (GED) to enter the workforce with 21st Century Skills. 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.  Mindset Care
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:
Contact Kian Ronnasi at kronnasi@mindset.care with any questions.
Project ENCOREProject 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:
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. Create Your Life Plan Now: Your Blueprint to ReentryDescription 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 enters 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 ResourcesThe Baltimore StationKnow 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 Howard CountyBridges to Housing StabilityBridges to Housing Stability is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, serving Howard County, MD. Bridges believes that housing is the key to a household’s stability. Whether resolving the issue of homelessness or preventing a household from becoming homeless, our goal goes beyond crisis intervention – our approach and mission focuses on long term housing stability for our target populations. MISSION: To provide a path to self-sufficiency to prevent and end homelessness through affordable housing solutions and advocacy in Howard County, Maryland. VISION: To champion the eradication of homelessness in Howard County, Maryland. For more information, please visit https://bridges2hs.org/ Housing in Prince George's CountyDXT Therapeutic FoundationOffers 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 CitySheppard PrattSheppard Pratt is offering a new residential treatment program for clients with co-occurring disorders. They offer rent support and other resources for apartments in Baltimore City. For more information, contact Ziva Ritchie at (410)-382-5426. St. AmbroseFour 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. Other InformationJune Submissions?To be included in June's Newsletter, please make your submission by COB Wednesday, May 27th, 2026. For more information and to make your June submission, visit the Submission Page here or send it to justice.reinvestment@maryland.gov.
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