The US Dept of Labor has just announced its annual REO grant opportunity for comprehensive reentry education, training and employment programs for youth and adults.
Reentry Projects (RP-3) SUMMARY FOA-ETA-19-01-A and FOA-ETA-19-01-YA Department of Labor: Employment and Training Administration DUE: April 25, 2019 4:00pm: Application Link
A Prospective Applicant Webcast will be available on March 29, 2019 at https://reo.workforcegps.org/
Purpose and Program Design:
Comprehensive reentry employment and training programs for youth or adults, using evidence-based, evidence-informed interventions or promising practices suggested by theory or research
Include at least one of the following approaches: skills training leading to industry-recognized
credentials, apprenticeship, work-based learning, or career pathways.
Must provide case management and legal services throughout the grant period.
Must partner with the justice system (examples: correctional facilities, parole, probation, residential reentry centers, and law enforcement) – MOU/Letter of Commitment required
Must partner with employers – MOU/Letter of Commitment required
Must serve contiguous high-crime, high poverty (25%+) areas. The entire City of Philadelphia qualifies, since its poverty rate is 25.8 and its County crime rates are higher than the state average.
2 bonus points for serving Opportunity Zone
2 bonus points for offering Apprenticeship opportunities
Eligible Applicants: Any 501(c)(3) non-profit. At least 30% of funds will be awarded to new applicants, 70% to REO grantees in past 5 years. An applicant may submit up to 2 applications, 1 for youth, 1 for adults. Applicants may not propose to serve youth adults and adults in the same application.
Budget: Max $1,500,000 per award, minimum 188 participants (at max $8,000 cost per participant)
Must allocate at least 5% of budget for follow-up
May allocate up to 5% for emergency assistance for housing, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment
Stipends for skills training enrollees and work experience wages are allowable costs
Incentive payments tied to skills training and work experience are allowable up to 1.5%
May allocate up to 1.5% for needs related payments (to help with paying utility bills to avoid shut-off, food, childcare, household items, transportation, etc.)
Grant Period: 39 months = 3 months planning, 24 months operations, 12 months follow up
Eligible participants:
Adults or Youth participants must reside in or be returning to the target area.
Adults (ages 25+): released from incarceration within 2 years or still being supervised (either with a release date within six months, residing in a residential reentry center, on electronic monitoring or home-based monitoring, or enrolled in a jail-based work release center)
Youth (age 18-24): is a high school dropout (up to 10% can be dropouts with no justice involvement) or currently involved or has been involved with the juvenile or adult justice system, which includes:
currently or previously incarcerated;
under the supervision of the justice system, either in out-of-home
placements, on probation, or on parole;
under an alternative sentence by the justice system; or
under a diversion program as an alternative to prosecution; and
What’s new this year?
DOL is reserving 30% of funding for new grantees (but it is also allowing rural areas to apply)
Adults can enroll within 2 years of release from incarceration (was 180 days!)
The whole city is eligible as a high crime, high poverty area (no need to target smaller census tracts)
Requires partnership with the justice system and with employers (letters of commitment)
Removes restrictions on enrolling those convicted of sex offenses
Sets performance goals for recidivism, training participation, credential attainment and placement
Up to 5% of funds can be used for emergency housing and for substance abuse or mental health treatment services. In addition to stipends, incentives are now allowable for adults, up to 1.5% of budget
Can serve up to 10% youth 18-24 who are high school dropouts but not involved in criminal justice system
Adds “skills training leading to industry-recognized credentials” to the list of employment-focused services along with apprenticeship, work-based learning, or career pathways. The program must offer at least one of these services.