Operation New Hope

REINTEGRATION OF EX-OFFENDERS

PRISONER-RE-ENTRY

FLORIDA HAS THE 3RD LARGEST INCARCERATED POPULATION IN AMERICA AND 95% WILL BE RELEASED. THE PROPOSED PROJECTS OBJECTIVE IS TO EXPAND THE OPERATION NEW HOPE INC.'S CURRENTLY DELIVERED PRE-RELEASE AND POST-RELEASE REENTRY SERVICES TO SUPPORT MORE PEOPLE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION IN FLORIDA. FUNDING FROM THIS GRANT WILL SERVE OVER 150 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS ($6,000 PER CLIENT AVERAGE). CLIENTS ARE IDENTIFIED PRE- AND POST-RELEASE TO RECEIVE REENTRY SERVICES THAT INCLUDE INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS OF CARE, CAREER AND TECHNICAL TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT, AND TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT FOR A FULL YEAR. THE PROJECT'S TARGET POPULATION IS ADULT FLORIDIANS WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD WHO ARE WILLING TO REMAIN DRUG-FREE AND ABLE AND MOTIVATED TO WORK. OPERATION NEW HOPE CURRENTLY DELIVERS PRE-RELEASE SERVICES AT OVER 40 CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ACROSS FLORIDA. CASE MANAGERS CREATE INDIVIDUALIZED TRANSITION PLANS ENSURING ADEQUATE HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, AND JOB TRAINING. THE APPLICANT ALSO DELIVERS JOB READINESS AND LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING AT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES TO HELP PARTICIPANTS GAIN EMPLOYMENT SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS PRIOR TO RELEASE. OPERATION NEW HOPE OFFERS POST-RELEASE TRAINING AND SUPPORT SERVICES IN JACKSONVILLE, ST. AUGUSTINE, ORLANDO, TAMPA, ST. PETE, AND COCA, FLORIDA, SERVING 5 OF THE TOP 10 COUNTIES WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF RETURNING CITIZENS. POST-RELEASE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO REMAIN DRUG-FREE AND ATTEND THREE WEEKS OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FEATURING PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND TECHNOLOGY SKILLS. OPERATION NEW HOPE PAIRS CLIENTS WITH A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST, CASE MANAGER, AND JOB COACH WHO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR A FULL YEAR TAILORED TO MEET INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND GOALS. CASE MANAGERS ARE ALL CERTIFIED ON THE LEVEL OF SERVICE/RISK NEED RESPONSIVITY EVIDENCED-BASED RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL TO DETERMINE CRIMINOGENIC RISK AND NEEDS AND DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESS THOSE RISKS AND NEEDS. OPERATION NEW HOPE HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH OVER 500 EMPLOYERS TO MONITOR LABOR MARKET NEEDS AND PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF FAIR CHANCE HIRING PRACTICES. THE APPLICANT HAS BUILT CUSTOMIZED TRAINING COURSES TO PREPARE CLIENTS TO MEET THE SPECIFIC JOB SKILLS AND PARTNERS WITH CAREER AND TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS TO CREATE CONDENSED TRAINING COURSES FOCUSED ON REGIONALLY HIGH-DEMAND EMPLOYMENT SECTORS INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION, MANUFACTURING, HOSPITALITY, LOGISTICS/TRANSPORTATION, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE CAREERS. OPERATION NEW HOPE USES EFFORTS TO OUTCOME TRACKING SOFTWARE TO COLLECT AND SHARE DATA AND OUTCOME MEASURES. THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL ASPECTS OF APPLICANT PROGRAMS ARE EVALUATED INCLUDING TRAINING, GRADUATION, EMPLOYMENT, WAGE, AND RECIDIVISM RATES.

FLORIDA HAS THE 3RD LARGEST INCARCERATED POPULATION IN AMERICA AND 95% WILL BE RELEASED. THE PROPOSED PROJECTS OBJECTIVE IS TO EXPAND THE APPLICANTS CURRENTLY DELIVERED PRE-RELEASE AND POST-RELEASE REENTRY SERVICES TO SUPPORT MORE PEOPLE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION IN FLORIDA. FUNDING FROM THIS GRANT WILL SERVE OVER 150 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS ($6,000 PER CLIENT AVERAGE). CLIENTS ARE IDENTIFIED PRE- AND POST-RELEASE TO RECEIVE REENTRY SERVICES THAT INCLUDE INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS OF CARE, CAREER AND TECHNICAL TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT, AND TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT FOR A FULL YEAR. THE APPLICANTS TARGET POPULATION IS ADULT FLORIDIANS WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD WHO ARE WILLING TO REMAIN DRUG-FREE AND ABLE AND MOTIVATED TO WORK. THE APPLICANT CURRENTLY DELIVERS PRE-RELEASE SERVICES AT 30 CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ACROSS FLORIDA. CASE MANAGERS CREATE INDIVIDUALIZED TRANSITION PLANS ENSURING ADEQUATE HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, AND JOB TRAINING. THE APPLICANT ALSO DELIVERS JOB READINESS AND LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING AT 2 CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES TO HELP PARTICIPANTS GAIN EMPLOYMENT SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS PRIOR TO RELEASE. THE APPLICANT OFFERS POST-RELEASE TRAINING AND SUPPORT SERVICES IN JACKSONVILLE, ST. AUGUSTINE, ORLANDO, AND TAMPA, SERVING 5 OF THE TOP 7 COUNTIES WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF RETURNING CITIZENS. POST-RELEASE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO REMAIN DRUG-FREE AND ATTEND THREE WEEKS OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FEATURING PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND TECHNOLOGY SKILLS. THE APPLICANT PAIRS CLIENTS WITH A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR, CASE MANAGER, AND JOB COACH WHO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR A FULL YEAR TAILORED TO MEET INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND GOALS. CASE MANAGERS ARE ALL CERTIFIED ON THE LEVEL OF SERVICE/RISK NEED RESPONSIVITY (LSRN) EVIDENCED-BASED RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL TO DETERMINE CRIMINOGENIC RISK AND NEEDS AND DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESS THOSE RISKS AND NEEDS. THE APPLICANT HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH OVER 400 EMPLOYERS TO MONITOR LABOR MARKET NEEDS AND PROMOTE SECOND CHANCE HIRING PRACTICES. THE APPLICANT HAS BUILT CUSTOMIZED TRAINING COURSES TO PREPARE CLIENTS TO MEET THE SPECIFIC JOB SKILLS OF EMPLOYMENT PARTNERS. THE APPLICANT PARTNERS WITH CAREER AND TECHNICAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS TO CREATE CONDENSED TRAINING COURSES FOCUSED ON THE FOLLOWING REGIONALLY HIGH DEMAND EMPLOYMENT SECTORS INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION, MANUFACTURING, HOSPITALITY, LOGISTICS/TRANSPORTATION, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE CAREERS. THE APPLICANT USES EFFORTS TO OUTCOME TRACKING SOFTWARE TO COLLECT AND SHARE DATA AND OUTCOME MEASURES. THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL ASPECTS OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE EVALUATED INCLUDING TRAINING, GRADUATION, EMPLOYMENT, WAGE, AND RECIDIVISM RATES.

READY4WORK - MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ENHANCEMENTS - PEOPLE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION FACE A MULTITUDE OF BARRIERS. LIMITED ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES ARE AMONG THE GREATEST OBSTACLES. WITHOUT THESE STABILIZING RESOURCES, PEOPLE ARE LESS CONNECTED TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEREFORE, FAR MORE LIKELY TO RE-OFFEND AND RETURN TO INCARCERATION. WITHOUT SUCCESSFUL REENTRY PROGRAMS LIKE READY4WORK THAT CONNECT RETURNING CITIZENS TO THESE SERVICES, COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCE HIGHER RATES OF CRIME, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND RECIDIVISM, WHICH ARE ALL DRAINS ON THE LOCAL TAX BASE AND OVERALL ECONOMY. ACCORDING TO A 2018 PRISON POLICY INITIATIVE REPORT, “FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE ARE ALMOST FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BE UNEMPLOYED, AND MANY WHO ARE EMPLOYED REMAIN RELEGATED TO THE MOST INSECURE JOBS.” RELATEDLY, APPROXIMATELY 68% OF THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED ARE REARRESTED WITHIN 3 YEARS ACCORDING TO THE US BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS 2018 UPDATE ON PRISONER RECIDIVISM. AT OPERATION NEW HOPE, WE SUPPORT, TRAIN, AND MOTIVATE PEOPLE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE, RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS SAVING TAXPAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BY AVOIDING REPEATED COST OF INCARCERATION AND LOST TAX REVENUE, AND HELPING TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF INCARCERATION AND POVERTY FOR THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN. IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE 4-PRONGED APPROACH (CASE MANAGEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, JOB TRAINING, AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE), OUR READY4WORK REENTRY PROGRAM ENSURES EACH CLIENT SUCCEEDS AT RECONNECTING TO THE WORKFORCE, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY. UPON ACCEPTANCE INTO THE READY4WORK PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO REMAIN DRUG-FREE AND ATTEND A COMPREHENSIVE JOB TRAINING PROGRAM FEATURING LIFE AND EMPLOYMENT SKILLS. CLIENTS ALSO RECEIVE WRAPAROUND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TAILORED TO MEET THEIR PERSONAL NEEDS AND GOALS. CLIENTS ARE PAIRED WITH A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR AND CASE MANAGER WHO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN OF CARE. EACH CLIENT IS ALSO ASSIGNED A JOB COACH TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT, LEADING TO JOB PLACEMENT WITH TARGETED EMPLOYMENT PARTNERS. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND OFFER VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO PROVIDE OUR CLIENTS WITH A COMPETITIVE EDGE THAT LEADS TO LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT. POVERTY AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FOR THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED ARE MAIN DRIVERS OF RECIDIVISM. TO ALLEVIATE IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, CLIENTS CAN EARN INCENTIVES AND STIPENDS WHILE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM, AND RECEIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION, VITAL DOCUMENTS, FOOD AND CLOTHING. WE PARTNER WITH TRANSITIONAL HOUSES AND PAY UP TO 3 MONTHS OF SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING ALLOWING CLIENTS TO FOCUS ON SECURING LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT AND DEVELOPING THE HEALTHY HABITS NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL UPON REENTRY. OUR READY4WORK PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO: - SUPPORT PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND INCARCERATION, - PROMOTE SECOND CHANCE HIRING PRACTICES TO MAKE GOOD ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION GOALS, - PROVIDE TRAINING IN RELEVANT, CAREER-PATHWAY SKILLS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MODERN INDUSTRY, - PREPARE EMPLOYERS TO RECEIVE WORKERS FROM THIS COMMUNITY AND CHALLENGE STIGMAS, - DELIVER WRAP-AROUND SERVICES THAT SUPPORT EMPLOYEES FOR SUCCESS, WHICH INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR. OPERATION NEW HOPE'S READY4WORK PROGRAM PRODUCES MULTIPLE COMMUNITY BENEFITS: - INCREASED PUBLIC SAFETY - REDUCED RECIDIVISM - DECREASED TAX BURDEN ASSOCIATED WITH INCARCERATION COSTS - INCREASED TAX REVENUE - NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION - THE IMPROVED ECONOMIC AND MENTAL HEALTH OF SOME THE CITY’S NEEDIEST CITIZENS. OUR READY4WORK PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM OF COERCIVE MOBILITY AND PROVIDES A STRUCTURED SOCIAL FRAMEWORK, OTHERWISE ABSENT OR DEPLETED IN HIGH INCARCERATION AND HIGH POVERTY NEIGHBORHOODS, NECESSARY FOR CULTIVATING THE HUMAN CAPITAL IN THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED TO PREPARE