SAMHSA Offender Reentry Program Grant

State and local governments
Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribes and tribal organizations
Urban Indian organizations
Public or private universities and colleges
Community- and faith-based organizations
Tribal organization means the recognized body of any AI/AN Tribe; any legally established organization of American Indians/Alaska Natives which is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by such organization and which includes the maximum participation of American Indians/Alaska Natives in all phases of its activities. Consortia of Tribes or tribal organizations are eligible to apply, but each participating entity must indicate its approval. The statutory authority for this program prohibits grants to for-profit agencies. In order to reduce duplication of Federal efforts, the Federal Bureau of Prisons institutions, and its various correctional/community corrections institutions and programs, are not eligible to apply for an ORP grant. Additionally, if you propose to serve offenders who are currently in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, or its various correctional/community corrections institutions and programs, your application will not be reviewed and will not be considered for an award.

You should provide plans to begin serving sentenced adult offenders/ex-offenders within four months of scheduled release to the community from a State or local correctional facility or your application will not be reviewed and will not be considered for an award.

The Offender Reentry Program (hereafter referred to as ORP), provides an opportunity for stakeholders to work together to give adult offenders/ex-offenders with substance use and/or co-occurring mental disorders the opportunity to improve their lives, including recovery from substance use and mental disorders and developing the capacity and skills to become fully-functioning parents, employees and citizens. SAMHSA’s interest is to actively support and shape offender reentry treatment partnerships so that clinical needs are met and clients are treated using evidence-based practices consistent with the disease model and the problem-solving model, rather than with the traditional criminal justice model. A long-term goal of this program is to build sustainable systems of care for adults needing substance abuse treatment and recovery support services as they return to the community from incarceration. In alignment with the goals of SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiative: “Trauma and Justice”, this program will help “reduce the pervasive, harmful, and costly health impact of violence and trauma by integrating trauma-informed approaches throughout health, behavioral health, and related systems and addressing the behavioral health needs of people involved in or at risk of involvement in the criminal and juvenile justice systems”. By providing needed treatment and recovery services, this program is intended to reduce the health and social costs of substance abuse and dependence to the public, and increase the safety of America’s citizens by reducing substance abuse related crime and violence. (See Appendix J for additional background information.)

ORP is one of SAMHSA’s services grant programs. SAMHSA intends that its services grants result in the delivery of services as soon as possible after award. Service delivery should begin by the 4th month of the project at the latest.

Offender Reentry Program grants are authorized under Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Substance Abuse Topic Area HP 2020-SA.