Perhaps one of the reasons for the lack of response about
outcomes for reentry programs is that there is very little actual research
on the topic.  We all know wonderful programs that are humane and helpful,
but very few of them could spend resources on evaluation.  The national
correctional education data project, under the auspices of John Linton,
Director of Correctional Education here at the U.S. Department of Education,
recognizes the need for a systematic national data system and has begun
working to make that a reality.  The article, "Correctional Education:
Getting the Data We Need" by Steven Klein and Michelle Tolbert in the
Journal of Correctional Education 58(3) September 2007, describes the need
for such national data and describes efforts to use existing data to begin
to capture the outcomes that we need to know to be successful advocates for
correctional education and reentry initiatives.  That being said, there are
many promising programs that could be accessed to determine practices that
might work in individual circumstances.  One program from Wyoming works with
women who have been released as well as with women seeking to support their
families with a living wage.  Betty Abbott, the correctional education
director in Wyoming, has said that the program has impressive recidivism
statistics.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/us/06wyoming.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=

 

Another article, this one from the Wall Street Journal, gives resources and
highlights a Maryland reentry success. You need to follow the site to the
October 3, 2007 story.
http://www.careerjournal.com/columnists/manageyourcareer/20071003-managingyo
urcareer.html
<http://www.careerjournal.com/columnists/manageyourcareer/20071003-managingy
ourcareer.html> 

 

I would encourage everyone to periodically look for resources on the web
site Grants.gov.   There is a quick review of all new grant opportunities
offered that week, as well as an index by subject area for all available
Federal grants.  Even if grants are listed as closed, it is possible to
obtain lists of the awardees and contact them for ideas and/or resources.
Here is a list of those agencies that received 3 year Prisoner Reentry
Initiative Training and Technical Assistance Program grants:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/07ReentryAwards.pdf

 

Interesting possibilities turn up in some pretty out of the way places.  It
would seem there would be opportunities for partnering with veterans' groups
for a number of grants addressing housing and addictions issues for
veterans.  An economic development grant targets communities experiencing
chronic high unemployment and low per capita income.  Another provides
opportunities for training in technology and construction trades in similar
communities. My personal favorite, as an old English teacher, is a grant
called Access to Artistic Excellence which calls for proposals to make the
arts more widely available in underserved populations.  I can see returnees
establishing galleries and/or performance venues for returning as well as
existing community members.  The closing date on that one is August 11,
2008.  There's still time.  

 

Carolyn Buser

Adult Education Specialist

United States Department of Education

Division of Adult Education and Literacy

202-245-6697  carolyn.buser at ed.gov

 

 

  _____  

From: specialtopics-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:specialtopics-bounces at nifl.gov]
On Behalf Of Janet Isserlis
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 10:43 AM
To: specialtopics at nifl.gov
Subject: [SpecialTopics 910] Re: Corrections to Community Education

 

All

Another resource, in Providence, working to assist ex-offenders in the
re-entry process.
Rhode Island's Family Life Center - resources to assist ex-offenders and
their families by providing long-term holistic case management services
starting prior to release from prison and extending up to 18 months
thereafter.
http://www.ri-familylifecenter.org/


The  site features a mapping element that many across advocacy interests
have utilized to graphically illustrate communities most impacted by their
residents' comings and goings  into and out of prison.  Not surprisingly,
some groups are disproportionately represented in prison and out of
communities.  The state passed legislation last year to restore the vote to
former offenders; this kind of mapping data (as well as very energetic
efforts by advocates) played a significant part in passing the legislation
(I believe) http://www.ri-familylifecenter.org/index.php?name=mapping


Janet Isserlis 

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