Incarcerated Individuals

During this review period, the coach met monthly with the grantee and emailed regularly with the site as well by phone, when issues have come up. It was learned that the FY 20 grant that closed in September 2023 gave back money, despite the coach being told that everything had been spent. Since the grant POC changed, no one seems to know where things broke down, leaving money unspent. It is believed that TDCJ has so many grants that the fiscal department is incapable of handling them all and it is not a surprise that they gave money back.

During this reporting period the Nevada Division of Child and Family services discussed the timeline for closing the grant on September 30, 2023. The team also discussed the possibility of obtaining an NCE. The coaches expressed concern about submitting a third NCE request due to the continued lack of progress on overall grant activities. The coaches also reviewed information provided by the agency for a borough-based confinement facility attached to a medical center and provided the agency with guidance.

During this reporting period, JDI coaches were able to schedule check in with officials from the Michigan Department of Corrections at least once a month. Within the last couple of months, Michigan staff enrolled in the PREA Academy course. MDOC staff also had a meeting with their IT department, ADSS, to discuss updating current IT systems that would draw down on allocated grant funds. Unfortunately, ADSS is in the early stages of a complete agency-wide IT overhaul, which means that any updates to the existing system with grant funds would be short-lived.

During this review period, the site is in the process of developing a three-day statewide conference for TDCJ facility-based staff. The coach has been asked to facilitate a self-care workshop during the event. Two JDI staff will attend, providing information about trauma and then the importance of self-care and art workshop. TDCJ will use grant funds to purchase art supply materials and is eager to replicate this training after the statewide conference. The site completed these activities by year end and successfully closed out the grant on 9/30/23.

During this review period, the coach had monthly contact with the grantee. The site is focused on working with their IT vendor to get the new risk assessment into their system. The vendor has been very slow, so there have not been any substantial updates from the site. The grantee is on task and focused on project goals and timeline. The coach has no reservations about the site's ability to complete its activities on time.

During this reporting period, the coach met less frequently with the site during this reporting period. The project has wrapped up grant activities and is just working on satisfying the match requirement.

During this reporting period, The new Training Development Specialist has been working on developing materials as planned for this grant. Due to the holidays the site and the coach did not have a call in December and will next check in the end of January. There was a check in the week following Thanksgiving so it was not anticipated that much was going to happen between then and the New Year. The DOC has been asking about FY'24 grant solicitation.

During this reporting period both OYA and DOC wrapped up final project tasks. They will begin closeout activities in the next reporting period. Both sites continue to be thoughtful in their PREA implementation efforts and they have completed tasks successfully. The grant successfully closed out on 9/30/23.

During this reporting period, JDI coaches regularly met with grant contacts at Maine DOC, but still have questions and concerns about the site's goals. The PREA Coordinator has expressed that they feel disempowered and often undermined in their role, including during an investigations training for staff leadership that surfaced tensions within the department. Much of the time on coaching calls was spent processing those tensions and supporting the PREA Coordinator as they navigate their role.

During this reporting period, the coaches and the site intended to meet once per month, but twice it was determined that there were no major updates and the site provided an email update. The newly hired mental health staff are keeping quite busy doing assessments and follow-ups with people who express prior sexual victimization. This is exactly what they wanted these positions to do, so they are seeing the fruits of their labor.