ARCHS AWARDED $265,944 IN FEDERAL SECOND CHANCE ACT FUNDING FOR MENTORING PROGRAM
ST. LOUIS, MO: Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) has been awarded $265,944 in funding by the U.S. Department of Justice to create a pre and post prison release mentoring program to serve non-violent offenders set to be released from Missouri prisons. The money is part of the Second Chance Act Mentoring Grant Program. ARCHS was the only grant recipient in Missouri for this particular mentoring funding.
The grant will fund a two-year ARCHS’ Reentry Mentoring Partnership that is expected to serve 280 offenders, age 18-35, who are scheduled for probation and/or parole from the Women’s Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia, Missouri and the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center in Pacific, Missouri. It is anticipated that half of the offenders will then voluntarily enroll in the post-release phase of the mentoring partnership.
ARCHS plans to partner with the Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC), Missouri Board of Probation & Parole, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri (Amachi), GUIDES Family Life Center, Helping Others Maintain Stability (HOMS), Humanitri, and the Institute for Peace and Justice to implement the grant.
The ARCHS’ partnership will provide prisoners with pre-release mentoring activities that include family reunification support services. Post release services include mentoring, job and soft skills training and access to mental health and substance abuse services, housing and other community supports.
In addition to the grant award, ARCHS and its partners will provide an additional $106,442 of in-kind funds to support the grant’s activities. The partnership is designed to enhance the existing pre-release services provided by the DOC. ARCHS partners with the DOC on several reentry initiatives, including hosting the annual Missouri Reentry Conference and supporting the efforts of the Missouri Eastern Region Reentry Group Effort (MERRGE).
“This is the second federal grant ARCHS has been awarded to address the needs of Greater St. Louis’ ex-offender population,” said Wendell E. Kimbrough, ARCHS’ CEO. “In 2007, ARCHS was awarded a $1.9 million U.S. Department of Labor grant to support ex-offender job training activities. ARCHS exceeded the grant’s goal of serving 488 ex-offenders by reaching more than 640 and placing more than 350 in jobs annually valued at more than $5.6 million. We are proud of the trust that federal funders have placed in ARCHS’ strategic management system.”
ARCHS’ 350 community partners annually serve more than 100,000 area residents. ARCHS manages more than $30 million in not-for-profit funds. Learn more at stlarchs.org