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By Pat Nolan|Published Date: January 28, 2010
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has announced that it is seeking applications for funding for mentoring grants to nonprofit organizations under the Second Chance Act. This is the second round of mentoring competition. Last fall, the BJA awarded the first 36 mentoring grants, totaling $10 million.
These grants are the most important part of the Second Chance Act grants. Prison Fellowship has found that having a mentor increases the beneficial impact of the other programs they participate in. Ex-offenders need healthy relationships even more than they need programs.
A mentor is there to help them think through the myriad decisions that confront them—where to live, how to get a job, where to get medical care. Even mundane things like obtaining a driver’s license or a state ID. Mentors also hold offenders accountable for staying on the right path and help them get back on their feet when they falter.
It’s great news that the grants just issued by the BJA’s Office of Justice Programs are meant to be used to help build the capacity of local communities to match returning offenders with a mentor.
There were 507 applications for the first round of grants, and we anticipate even greater demand for the $15 million available this year. The mentoring grants are the only source of funding currently available for community- and faith-based groups under the Second Chance Act; so, be prepared for stiff competition.
The announcement from BJA has excellent step-by-step instructions, an invaluable checklist and a comprehensive syllabus of articles about mentoring. My hat is off to Gary Dennis and his team at BJA. They have done a terrific job establishing this grant program in a way that is understandable to those of us who are not in government service.
You can always find the latest information about prisoner reentry and the Second Chance Act on Justice Fellowship’s Prisoner Reentry Resource Page. The National Reentry Resource Center is another invaluable tool for everyone involved in prisoner reentry.
Justice Fellowship tries to keep you informed of the latest developments in criminal justice reform and restorative justice. I hope you will take advantage of Justice Fellowship’s new media resources:
- Website – We have totally revamped Justice Fellowship’s website. I hope you will visit the new site to explore the many resources we have posted to assist you in advocating for justice reform.
- Twitter – Follow us on Twitter. We will keep you informed up to the minute—literally.
- Facebook – Become a fan of Justice Fellowship on Facebook.
- Huffington Post – You can become a fan of my blog on Huffington Post.
- Justice eReport – I hope you find these commentaries interesting and helpful. I try to include links that will be useful to you. Please forward it to your friends and colleagues and suggest that they subscribe as well.
I hope you find this information helpful. The groups that brought reentry to the forefront in the U.S. Congress and in the states are continuing their good work. Thank you for being part of this movement of God.
In His service,
Pat Nolan
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