New Second Chance Act behavioral health funding opportunities for counties

Key Takeaways

The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) introduced two funding opportunities through the Second Chance Act (SCA) aimed at diminishing recidivism and enhancing the reintegration outcomes for individuals returning from local jails and juvenile facilities back into the community. Enacted on April 9, 2008, with bipartisan backing, the SCA empowers federal grants to support essential programs and reforms within systems, all with the goal of enhancing the reentry process.

Improving Adult and Youth Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Program

• Counties are invited to apply for grants to support cross-system collaboration to enhance clinical stabilization pretrial, during confinement and post-release
• Funding should be used to minimize the potential for experiencing crisis and improve recovery outcomes for people with serious mental illness, substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders who are currently involved with the criminal or juvenile justice systems or are reentering the community from these systems
• Applications are due at Grants.gov on April 25, 2024, at 8:59 p.m. EDT or at JustGrants on April 30, 2024, at 8:59 p.m. EDT

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Second Chance Act Pay for Success

• This funding opportunity assists county governments in pricing, writing, negotiating, funding and managing contracts with service providers that pay for reentry services in a way that ensures accountability of the contract service providers and incentivizes improved performance over time
• County governments are incentivized to use performance-based or outcomes-based contracting to enhance or implement clinical services and other evidence-based responses to improve reentry, reduce recidivism and address the treatment and recovery needs of justice-involved people with mental health, substance use or co-occurring disorders
• Applications are due at Grants.gov on April 25, 2024, at 8:59 p.m. EDT or at JustGrants on April 30, 2024, at 8:59 p.m. EDT

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These Second Chance Act funding opportunities empower counties to play a crucial role in redefining the reentry process. By fostering collaboration, enhancing clinical services and addressing critical needs, counties can make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals transitioning from the criminal justice system. For detailed information and application access, explore the FY 2024 Improving Adult and Youth Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Program and FY 2024 Second Chance Act Pay for Success webpages.