The Soulfisher Ministries

THE SOULFISHER MINISTRIES (TSM), A 501C3 ORGANIZATION IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, WILL IMPLEMENT ITS TRIM TAB BOOT CAMP THROUGH THE SECOND CHANCE ACT COMMUNITY-BASED REENTRY INCUBATOR INITIATIVE. THE GOALS OF THE TRIM TAB BOOT CAMP ARE TO PROVIDE TTA TO SUB-AWARDEES THAT WILL: 1) ENHANCE REENTRY PROGRAMS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL BY STRENGTHENING THEIR OPERATIONS; 2) IMPROVE COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION AND RECIDIVISM OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE TRANSITIONING FROM INCARCERATION BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY; 3) ENSURE RESPONSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF SUB-AWARDS; AND 4) BUILD ADMINISTRATIVE, OPERATIONAL, AND ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO SERVE THE TARGET POPULATION EFFECTIVELY, USING COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT PLANS THAT ADDRESS CRIMINOGENIC RISK AND NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED BY VALIDATED CRIMINOGENIC RISK ASSESSMENTS AND DELIVER OR FACILITATE SERVICES IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH PARTICIPANTS LEARNING STYLES AND ABILITIES. THE TARGET POPULATION INCLUDES FAITH-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT PRIMARILY SPECIALIZE IN REENTRY SERVICES FOR WOMEN. THE INCUBATOR WILL SERVE, AT MINIMUM, 18 REENTRY SERVICE PROVIDERS. THE INCUBATOR WILL CONSIST OF A ONE-YEAR PLANNING PERIOD THAT INCLUDES PARTNERING WITH BJA TO CREATE A PRE-APPLICATION WEBINAR FOR POTENTIAL APPLICANTS, LETTER OF INTEREST PROCESS, REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS, SELECTION OF SUB-AWARDEES, AND DEVELOPMENT OF A FULL EVALUATION PLAN AND BOOT CAMP PROGRAM SESSIONS. IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY AN ORIENTATION FOR SELECTED APPLICANTS, THE TRIM TAB BOOT CAMP IN YEAR 2, AND TTA SUPPORT DURING YEAR 2 TO YEAR 5 OF THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.

THE SOULFISHER MINISTRIES (TSM), A 501C3 ORGANIZATION IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, IS REQUESTING FUNDS FOR ITS ADULT GENERAL ACADEMIC PROGRAM OF EDUCATION (AGAPE) SUCCESSFUL SECOND CHANCES INITIATIVE THROUGH THE IMPROVING REENTRY EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES PROGRAM. THE GOALS OF THE AGAPE SUCCESSFUL SECOND CHANCES INITIATIVE ARE TO: 1) EXPAND THE NUMBER OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR AGAPE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS; 2) INCREASE UTILIZATION OF EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OF AMONG PARTICIPANTS PRIOR TO AGAPE PROGRAM COMPLETION 12 MONTHS AFTER RELEASE FROM PRISON; AND 3) INCREASE THE STABILITY OF PARTICIPANTS PRIOR TO AGAPE PROGRAM COMPLETION 12 MONTHS AFTER RELEASE FROM PRISON. THE TARGET POPULATION INCLUDES WOMEN AND MEN BEING RELEASED TO ST. LOUIS FROM WOMEN’S EASTERN RECEPTION AND DIAGNOSTIC CORRECTIONAL CENTER (WERDCC), CHILLICOTHE CORRECTIONAL CENTER (CCC), AND NORTHEASTERN CORRECTIONAL CENTER (NECC) ALL MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (MDOC) INSTITUTIONS. THE PROGRAM WILL SERVE AT A MINIMUM 75 WOMEN AND MEN IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA FOLLOWING THEM FOR ONE YEAR. PRE-RELEASE SERVICES WILL BE BASED ON THE INSTITUTION AND WILL INCLUDE INTAKE, ASSESSMENT, AND ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION, SIX MONTHS OF CASE MANAGEMENT, AND SKILL-BASED/KNOWLEDGE-BASED CLASSES (FINANCIAL LITERACY, CAREER READINESS, LIFE SKILLS, ETC.). UPON RELEASE, PARTICIPANTS WILL CONTINUE BUILDING CAREER READINESS SKILLS AND LIFE SKILLS AND HAVE ACCESS TO WRAP-AROUND SERVICES THAT INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.  TRAINING FOR STAFF WILL ADDRESS APPROPRIATE USE OF RISK NEEDS ASSESSMENT, COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS, STRATEGIES ON THE UTILIZATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES. TSM WILL ADOPT ALL PROGRAM-SPECIFIC PRIORITY AREAS FOR THIS SOLICITATION AND OJP POLICY PRIORITY AREAS BY BENEFITTING INDIVIDUALS WHO RESIDE IN HIGH-POVERTY AREA AND OFFERING ENHANCEMENTS TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES (QUALIFIED OPPORTUNITY ZONES).   THE BROWN SCHOOL EVALUATION CENTER (CENTER) AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS WILL SERVE AS THE EXTERNAL EVALUATOR. THE CENTER WILL COLLABORATE WITH TSM TO DEVELOP THE EVALUATION PLAN FOR THE NON-EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION DESIGN. TSM WILL COLLECT INDIVIDUAL LEVEL DATA FROM THE TARGET POPULATION AND SHARE DE-IDENTIFIED DATA WITH THE CENTER FOR ANALYSIS AND REPORTING. TSM AND THE CENTER WILL REVIEW THE RESULTS ON A REGULAR BASIS TO INFORM QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND PROGRESS ON ACHIEVING PROGRAM GOALS. DELIVERABLES WILL INCLUDE: EVALUATION PLAN, DATA COLLECTION TOOLS AND PROTOCOLS, DISSEMINATION AND SUSTAINABILITY PLANS, AND QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL REPORTS.

THE SOULFISHER MINISTRIES (TSM), A 501C3 ORGANIZATION IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, IS REQUESTING FUNDS FOR ITS ADULT GENERAL ACADEMIC PROGRAM OF EDUCATION (AGAPE) REENTRY PROGRAM THROUGH THE SECOND CHANCE ACT COMMUNITY-BASED REENTRY PROGRAM.  THE GOALS OF THE AGAPE REENTRY PROGRAM ARE TO: REDUCE RECIDIVISM AMONG THE FEMALE OFFENDER POPULATION BY PROVIDING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO REENTRY THAT PREPARES WOMEN TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION FROM INCARCERATION TO THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY; EXPAND TSM’S SERVICE PROVISION TO INCLUDE A CENTRALIZED FOCUS ON COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT) PRE AND POST RELEASE; EMPLOY A CERTIFIED CBT, DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAM FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED WOMEN DURING POST-RELEASE SERVICE DELIVERY; INCREASE THE STABILITY OF PARTICIPANTS PRIOR TO AGAPE PROGRAM COMPLETION 12 MONTHS AFTER RELEASE FROM PRISON. THE TARGET POPULATION INCLUDES WOMEN WHO WILL BE RETURNING TO ST. LOUIS FROM WOMEN’S EASTERN RECEPTION AND DIAGNOSTIC CORRECTIONAL CENTER, A FEMALE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (MDOC) INSTITUTION, AND WOMEN HELD AT THE ST. LOUIS CITY JUSTICE CENTER. THE PROGRAM WILL SERVE AT A MINIMUM 75 WOMEN IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA FOLLOWING THEM FOR ONE YEAR. LIKEWISE, AS DESCRIBE ON PAGE 3 AND PAGE 8 IN THE PROGRAM NARRATIVE, TSM IS SEEKING PRIORITY CONSIDERATION UNDER PRIORITY CONSIDERATION 1(A). PRE-RELEASE SERVICES WILL INCLUDE INTAKE, ASSESSMENT, AND ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION, SIX MONTHS TO ONE YEAR OF CASE MANAGEMENT, AND SKILL-BASED/KNOWLEDGE-BASED CLASSES (FINANCIAL LITERACY, JOB READINESS, COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY GROUPS, ETC.). UPON RELEASE, CLIENTS WILL MEET WEEKLY WITH CASE MANAGERS, PARTICIPATE IN SERVICES RELEVANT TO THEIR GOALS AND NEEDS (I.E., EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, SUBSTANCE USE, MENTAL AND COGNITIVE SERVICES), PARTICIPATE IN CBT-BASED SUPPORT GROUPS AND WILL RECEIVE INTENSIVE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES THAT INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR 12 MONTHS.  TRAINING FOR STAFF WILL ADDRESS APPROPRIATE USE OF COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS, STRATEGIES ON THE UTILIZATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, DATA COLLECTION FOR AN OBSERVATIONAL COHORT EVALUATION, AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES. TSM WILL EMPLOY AN OBSERVATION COHORT DESIGN TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM FIDELITY AND IMPACT ON PARTICIPANTS, COMPARING THOSE WHO COMPLETE THE FULL PROGRAM (PRE-RELEASE AND 12 MONTHS OF POST-RELEASE) TO THOSE WHO DO NOT COMPLETE FULL PROGRAM. THE CURRENT BASELINE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR BJA-FUNDED WOMEN WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE AGAPE PROGRAM IS 8 PERCENT. THE BROWN SCHOOL EVALUATION CENTER (EC) AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS WILL SERVE AS THE EXTERNAL EVALUATOR.

AGAPE PROGRAM REENTRY SERVICES GRANT

THE MISSION OF THE SOULFISHER MINISTRIES (TSM) IS TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF YOUTH WITH INCARCERATED PARENTS AND TO PROMOTE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE FOR THOSE CURRENTLY OR FORMERLY INCARCERATED. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TWO-FOLD: TO RE-EMPOWER THOSE FORMERLY INCARCERATED TO BE PRODUCTIVE INFLUENCES IN THEIR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY AND TO HELP BREAK THE CYCLE OF THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE BY EMPOWERING OUR YOUTH TO BE ACADEMICALLY SOUND CITIZENS WHO CAN COMPETE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECT ALIGNS WITH BOTH THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND EDUCATION FOCUS AREAS. THE VISTA PROJECT WILL SEEK TO BUILD ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY FOR OUR TWO CURRENT PROGRAMS: EDUCATE NOW TO ACHIEVE LATER (ENAL) AND ADULT GENERAL ACADEMIC PROGRAM OF EDUCATION (AGAPE), AND EXPECTS TO BENEFIT AT LEAST 250 BENEFICIARIES. THE ENAL PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING AND ENRICHMENT FOR AT-RISK YOUTH (GRADES K -- 8) IN THE RIVERVIEW GARDENS SCHOOL DISTRICT; THE AGAPE PROGRAM PROVIDES REENTRY SERVICES FOR WOMEN INVOLVED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. FOUR VISTA MEMBERS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT BY PERFORMING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT (STEM, READING LITERACY, AND JOB READINESS), DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUALS, CREATING VOLUNTEER AND EMPLOYEE HANDBOOKS, VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT, AND GRANT RESEARCH AND APPLICATION OVER THE COURSE OF THE SERVICE YEAR. THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THE VISTAS WILL BE TO HELP BUILD ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY.