Focus Reentry

TO PROMOTE SUCCESSFUL SECOND CHANCES, REDUCE RECIDIVISM, AND ENHANCE THE WELL-BEING AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

DUE TO THE SHELTER IN PLACE ORDERS AND REMOTE SERVICES IN 2020 BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WE PROVIDED BACKPACKS WITH PRE-PAID SMARTPHONES, CLOTHING, HYGIENE, AND BUS PASSES, TO INMATES RELEASED FROM THE BOULDER COUNTY JAIL WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, UNEMPLOYMENT, HAVE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH NEEDS AND LACK A SUPPORT SYSTEM. THESE INMATES WERE IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 CRISIS DUE TO THEIR INABILITY TO ACCESS REMOTE RESOURCES WITHOUT APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY. SMARTPHONES WERE USED TO ACCESS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES AND ENROLLMENTS, INCLUDING COURT DATES, PROBATION, MEDICAID AND SNAP ENROLLMENTS, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH APPOINTMENTS, AND TO STAY CONNECTED WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES AND FAMILY.

THE MENTORING PROGRAM ADDRESSES RECIDIVISM RISKS BY PROVIDING INMATES WITH SERVICES THAT INCLUDE PRE-RELEASE MENTORING FOR A MINIMUM OF SIX WEEKS; THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACTION PLAN TO IDENTIFY CRITICAL AND BASIC NEEDS ONCE RELEASED; IMMEDIATE TRANSPORTATION THE DAY OF RELEASE TO SECURE IMMEDIATE SHELTER, OBTAIN IDENTIFICATION, ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, LOCATE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, AND REPORT TO ALL COURT-ORDERED APPOINTMENTS; AND ONGOING SUPPORT AND MENTORSHIP FOR A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS POST-RELEASE.

THE ONE STOP PROGRAM DOES BOTH STREET OUTREACH AND DIRECT HOUSING SERVICES. STREET OUTREACH IS DONE WEEKLY AT A COMMUNITY EVENT. SERVICES DURING OUTREACH INCLUDE PROVIDING BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS CLOTHING, HYGIENE AND BUS PASSES. WE ALSO PROVIDE CRITICAL RESOURCES INCLUDING MEDICAID AND SNAP ENROLLMENTS, AND SMARTPHONES FOR ACCESS TO REMOTE SERVICES. OSS DIRECT HOUSING SERVICES INCLUDE PRIORITIZING INCARCERATED PEOPLE FOR HOUSING THROUGH THE VISPDAT SYSTEM, ENROLLING CLIENTS IN THE HCV HOUSING LOTTERY, CONNECTING CLIENTS TO BRIDGE HOUSING, ASSISTING WITH RENTAL APPLICATION DOCUMENTS AND ATTENDING HEARINGS WHEN BACKGROUND IS AN ISSUE.