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THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY DIVERSION HUB, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LIVEFREE OKC, AIMS TO REDUCE VIOLENT CRIME BY EXPANDING A PILOT COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION (CVI) PROGRAM IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA THAT DEPLOYS CREDIBLE MESSENGERS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS AT HIGHEST RISK OF VIOLENCE WITH MEDIATION AND LIFE-STABILIZING SERVICES. GRANT FUNDS WILL BE USED TO: 1) ENHANCE COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS; 2) HIRE CRITICAL STAFF TO EXPAND PROGRAM CAPACITY; AND 3) CONTRIBUTE TO THE NATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF CVI BEST PRACTICES. BUDGETED PEER LEARNING EVENTS AND THE ADDITION OF A RESEARCHER TO THE CVIPI TEAM WILL ENABLE THE ONGOING CRITIQUE, EVALUATION, AND DISSEMINATION OF PROJECT OUTCOMES. PROGRAM OUTCOMES INCLUDE A DEMONSTRATED REDUCTION IN COMMUNITY VIOLENCE IN WARD 7 AND EXPANDED MEDIATION AND LIFE-STABILIZING SERVICES AT ITS DIVERSION HUB TO MORE HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS. LIVEFREE WILL ALSO DEVELOP A COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND VIOLENCE REDUCTION STRATEGIC PLAN TO GUIDE CVI IMPLEMENTATION. PRIMARY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE DEPLOYMENT OF ADDITIONAL PEACEMAKERS TO MEDIATE CONFLICT, THE HIRING OF ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF TO ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY AND SUCCESSFUL EXPANSION, THE PROVISION OF COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, AND THE HOSTING OF COMMUNITY CONVENINGS AND COLLABORATIVE MEETINGS THAT TRANSMIT COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. THE TARGET AREA FOR THE PROJECT IS WARD 7 IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND THE TARGET AGE RANGE IS 18-35, ALTHOUGH STAFF MAY SERVE INDIVIDUALS OUTSIDE OF THESE RANGES BASED ON NEED. INDIVIDUALS AT HIGHEST RISK FOR VIOLENCE ARE IDENTIFIED THROUGH OFFICIAL DATA AND CONFIRMED THROUGH COMMUNITY INFORMATION GATHERED BY CREDIBLE MESSENGERS ON RISK FACTORS SUCH AS SUBSTANCE USE AND HOUSING INSTABILITY.

OKLAHOMA COUNTY DIVERSION HUB, AS THE DESIGNATED FISCAL AGENT OF THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY DRUG COURT BOARD, IS SEEKING $1,000,000 OVER 48 MONTHS IN ADULT TREATMENT COURT DISCRETIONARY GRANT FUNDS TO EXPAND THE EXISTING FELONY DRUG COURT UNDER CATEGORY 2: ENHANCEMENT. THE JURISDICTION AND SERVICE AREA ARE OKLAHOMA COUNTY (POPULATION 802,599). TO REDUCE THE MISUSE OF OPIOIDS, STIMULANTS, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES BY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND TO REDUCE OKLAHOMAS HIGH OVERDOSE RATE, THE DIVERSION HUB WILL PARTNER WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPANT CAPACITY OF THE EXISTING ADULT DRUG COURT AND PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE PROGRAM NAVIGATION FOR DRUG COURT PARTICIPANTS. FUNDS WILL BE USED BY THE DIVERSION HUB TO HIRE A PROGRAM NAVIGATOR TO HELP PARTICIPANTS MEET TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS. FUNDS WILL ALSO BE SUBAWARDED FOR A DEDICATED PUBLIC DEFENDER TO THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER AND A DEDICATED PROSECUTOR TO THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF THE DRUG COURT WITHOUT INFRINGING ON BEST PRACTICE CASELOADS. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL SERVE 351 PARTICIPANTS DURING THE GRANT PERIOD. PARTICIPANT LENGTH OF PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AVERAGES 18 MONTHS. THE TARGET POPULATION IS INDIVIDUALS IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY AT HIGH RISK OF RECIDIVISM (HIGH CRIMINOGENIC NEED) AND HIGH NEED FOR SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT AS DETERMINED BY ASSESSMENTS CONDUCTED DURING THE REFERRAL PROCESS. THE JURISDICTION HAS ACCESS TO ALL TYPES OF MAT SERVICES.

OKLAHOMA COUNTY DIVERSION HUB IS PARTNERING WITH OKLAHOMA COUNTY DETENTION CENTER AND THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE TO CREATE A WORKFORCE SUPPORT PROGRAM (WSP), WHICH WILL IMPROVE LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS REENTERING THE COMMUNITY FROM INCARCERATION. THE PROJECT WILL CREATE A FAIR CHANCE OPPORTUNITY PATHWAY THAT USES EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS, REDUCES RECIDIVISM, AND PROMOTES SUCCESS AND WELL-BEING IN INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY INCARCERATION. THE WSP WILL SERVE 500 INDIVIDUALS DURING THE GRANT PERIOD AND REDUCE RECIDIVISM AMONG PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS BY ONE THIRD OVER THE COUNTYWIDE JAIL REBOOKING RATE OF 45%. GRANT FUNDS WILL BE USED TO HIRE AN EMPLOYMENT COORDINATOR, EMPLOYMENT NAVIGATOR, AND ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER. THE PRIMARY SUBRECIPIENT IS THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE, WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDS DEDICATED TO ANNUAL EVALUATIONS. THE SERVICE AREA IS OKLAHOMA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA (POPULATION 808,866). PRIMARY ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYMENT PATHWAY FOR JUSTICE-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS REINTEGRATING INTO THE COMMUNITY; THE USE OF MARKET LABOR ANALYSES TO GUIDE EMPLOYMENT; THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIPS; THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BEST PRACTICES FROM THE EMPLOYER-DRIVEN EMPLOYMENT MODEL FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS; AND THE REDUCTION IN LEGAL BARRIERS, INCLUDING THE RESOLUTION OF WARRANTS, THAT PREVENT INDIVIDUALS FROM OBTAINING AND MAINTAINING STABLE EMPLOYMENT. PARTICIPANTS WILL CONCURRENTLY RECEIVE WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT WHILE WORKING WITH THE EMPLOYMENT TEAM TO IDENTIFY REALISTIC AND IN-DEMAND CAREER TRACKS, DEVELOP THEIR JOB SKILLS, AND FIND LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT THAT PAYS A LIVING WAGE. IN ADDITION TO THE CREATION OF AN ACTION PLAN, PROJECT DELIVERABLES INCLUDE 500 CLIENTS SERVED WITH EMPLOYMENT NAVIGATION AND 250 CLIENTS PLACED INTO CAREER-FOCUSED EMPLOYMENT, WITH OUTCOMES TRACKED AT INTERVALS OF 3, 6, AND 12 MONTHS; 250 CLIENTS SERVED WITH ASSISTANCE RESOLVING LEGAL BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT; 250 CLIENTS FEDERALLY BONDED; LETTERS OF INTENT GARNERED FROM COMMUNITY EMPLOYERS; AND A WRITTEN TEAM MANUAL THAT INCORPORATES WORKFORCE ANALYSES INTO EMPLOYMENT NAVIGATION SERVICES. THE WSP WILL REDUCE RECIDIVISM BY AT LEAST 15%, GENERATING COST SAVINGS, INCREASING PUBLIC SAFETY, AND IMPROVING LIFE OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS REENTERING THE COMMUNITY FROM A PERIOD OF INCARCERATION IN THE COUNTY JAIL.

OKLAHOMA COUNTY DIVERSION HUB IS PARTNERING WITH OKLAHOMA COUNTY DETENTION CENTER AND LEGAL AID SERVICES OF OKLAHOMA TO CREATE THE REENTRY SUPPORT TEAM, WHICH WILL IMPROVE JAIL REENTRY OUTCOMES AND REDUCE RECIDIVISM BY ADDRESSING THE LACK OF INCOME-STABILIZING SERVICES AND REENTRY COORDINATION IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY. RISK-NEEDS ASSESSMENTS WILL INFORM CASE MANAGEMENT THAT LEVERAGES DIVERSION HUBS EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS TO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES. GRANT FUNDS WILL BE USED TO HIRE A DEDICATED REENTRY COORDINATOR, AN EMPLOYMENT NAVIGATOR, AND A CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE ATTORNEY. LEGAL AID SERVICES IS A SUBRECIPIENT OF THIS AWARD. THE SERVICE AREA IS OKLAHOMA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA (POPULATION 808,866). THE PROJECT WILL CREATE A FORMAL REENTRY PATHWAY FROM THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL THAT ADDRESSES THE CRIMINOGENIC RISKS FOR RECIDIVISM AND REDUCE THE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO SUCCESSFUL REENTRY. PRIMARY ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE THE CREATION AND CARRYING OUT OF RELEASE PLANS WHILE INDIVIDUALS ARE IN CUSTODY, THE USE OF VALIDATED RISK NEEDS ASSESSMENTS IN HOLISTIC CASE MANAGEMENT, AND THE DELIVERY OF EMPLOYMENT NAVIGATION AND CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES ONSITE AT DIVERSION HUB. PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AT COST HEARINGS TO WAIVE FINES AND FEES OR EXPUNGEMENT ASSISTANCE, AMONG OTHER CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES. THE MAJORITY OF PARTICIPANTS WILL BE UNEMPLOYED AND WILL RECEIVE EMPLOYMENT NAVIGATION ASSISTANCE. DIVERSION HUB WILL CONTRACT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA TO CONDUCT INDEPENDENT ANNUAL EVALUATIONS OF PROGRAM OUTCOMES.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES WHERE VERMONT’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS ARE SYSTEMATICALLY FAILING PEOPLE IN THE MOST MARGINALIZED IDENTITY GROUPS. TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND CONSISTENT, EFFECTIVE DATA COLLECTION TOOLS AND PRACTICES ARE NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND AND TAKE ACTION TO ADDRESS THE WAYS VERMONT’S RESTORATIVE JUSTICE SYSTEM PERPETUATES THE PREVALENT INEQUITIES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS. AT BEST, GAPS IN TRAINING AND DATA LEAD TO INCONSISTENCIES IN HOW RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AGENCIES DELIVER SERVICES. AT WORST, THESE GAPS CONCEAL DIFFERENCES IN THE TREATMENT OF DIVERSE POPULATIONS AND MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MONITOR AND ADDRESS STATEWIDE RACIAL EQUITY AND INCLUSION TRENDS AND DISPARITIES. BY DEVELOPING SHARED, CONSISTENT, RESOURCED TRAINING AND DATA COLLECTION, VERMONT’S RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AGENCIES WILL SERVE AS LEADERS IN THE STATE’S RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS.   THE ORANGE COUNTY RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CENTER (OCRJC) AND ITS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PARTNERS WILL USE OJP BYRNE DISCRETIONARY COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE TO INCREASE RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN VERMONT’S EFFORTS TO PROMOTE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, VERMONT’S RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS WILL COLLABORATE, THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINING AND DATA SYSTEMS,  TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE BY UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORIC AND CURRENT BIAS WITHIN VERMONT’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS. VERMONT’S 24 RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AGENCIES COMPRISE A MIGHTY GROUP OF STATE-FUNDED AGENCIES DEDICATED TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. THIS PROJECT WILL STRENGTHEN THIS NETWORK TO ASSURE EQUITY AND INCLUSION FOR MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS WHEN ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY, MITIGATING THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT, AND PROVIDING HOLISTIC RESPONSES TO REPAIR HARM WHEN CRIME OCCURS.   THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN THE WORK OF THE STATE’S RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AGENCIES BY: 1) DEVELOPING, DELIVERING, AND INSTITUTIONALIZING STATEWIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS ACROSS ALL 24 AGENCIES TO ADDRESS PERSONAL AND INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM, IMPLICIT BIAS, TRAUMA, GENDER EQUITY, AND GENERAL INCLUSIVITY; 2) CONDUCTING A STATEWIDE DATA COLLECTION PROCESS TO IMPROVE RACIAL JUSTICE AND INCLUSION OUTCOMES, INCLUDING A NEEDS ASSESSMENT, THE CREATION OF STANDARD METRICS AND COLLECTION TOOLS, AND THE SELECTION OF, AND AGENCY-ONBOARDING TO, A NEW, SHARED DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM; AND 3) SUPPORTING AGENCIES TO REVIEW AND UPDATE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WITH THE GUIDANCE OF ANTI-RACISM EXPERTS.   AT CONCLUSION, VERMONT’S RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AGENCIES WILL HAVE EMBEDDED, CONSISTENT AND EFFECTIVE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING FOR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS; POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES THAT PROMOTE INCLUSION; AND DATA SYSTEMS THAT CAPTURE THE NECESSARY METRICS TO PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THESE GOALS.

MORGAN COUNTY DIVERSIFICATION FOUNDATION - FY23 CONGRESSIONAL COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING