Document Type
Report
Publication Date
6-30-2020
Abstract
The report presents data evaluation updates for the Vocational and Life Skills Program (VLS) for the second year of Grant Cycle Three. VLS was created by the Nebraska Legislative Bill 907 in 2014 to improve the transition for individuals returning to the community after incarceration, increase public safety, and reduce recidivism. VLS includes a balance of providers that address different types of participant needs that develop and manifest in different ways. This report contains 1) a VLS logic model, 2) descriptions of the eight funded programs and a matrix of services provided, 3) a snapshot of participation across the programs, 4) participant characteristics and feedback, and 5) overall initiative and individualized evaluation results into the second year of the grant cycle.
The Nebraska Center for Justice Research (NCJR-UNO) evaluates the VLS initiative. NCJR reports to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) regarding the implementation process and data updates on a monthly and quarterly basis. NCJR has collaborated with VLS service providers to create individualized evaluation plans with manageable goals contributing to the overall initiative goals. The intermediate goals of VLS have developed over time and are currently focused on providing increased responsivity to individuals facing a variety of barriers and challenges to successful reentry. The evaluation team is also working with NDCS to systematically match needs to intervention across grantees and increase the utilization of quality evidence-based interventions. The diversity of programming available is a challenge to evaluate, but it does make it possible to address whole-person needs.
During the second year of Grant Cycle Three, VLS grantees generally met their individualized performance and outcome measures (pgs. 26-33), despite being significantly challenged by COVID-19. NDCS facilities needed to limit provider entry throughout 2020 and 2021 to reduce the spread among staff, visitors, and incarcerated persons. This inhibited the grantees from being able to provide all program offerings within facilities, significantly reducing numbers served. Program leadership also paused in person services throughout the year to keep program staff safe. Even when in person services resumed, quarantines and staff getting ill from the virus were a common occurrence also reducing services offered to the reentry population. Therefore, although small organizations saw a reduction of services, larger organizations saw an increased demand from incarcerated persons finding it even more difficult to find housing, employment, and social interaction in a global pandemic. The evaluation team has noted when COVID-19 may have significantly skewed the results presented in this report and plan to study additional adverse effects in the future.
Recommended Citation
Nebraska Center for Justice Research, UNO; Towne, Katelynn; Campagna, Michael; Spohn, Ryan E.; and Grell, Tara, "Vocational and Life Skills Evaluation Annual Report: Grant Cycle 3: Year 2 July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020" (2020). Reports. 148.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/ncjrreports/148
Vocational & Life Skills Grant Cycle 3 Programs Funded