A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Program Title: Life Skills for State and Local Prisoners

Project Title: Forward

Award Number: V255A000075

Project Director: Laurie Feiler
Awardee: South Dakota Department of Corrections
Address: 3200 E. Hwy. #34, c/o 500 East Capitol Avenue
City, State, Zip: Pierre, SD 57501
Telephone: 605-773-3478

Award Period: September 1, 2000 to August 31, 2003

Federal Project Officer: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, Division of National Programs, Office of Correctional Education, (202) 205-5621

Objectives: To develop a life skills program for adult inmates of the South Dakota state prison system who are within one year of release through six months after release by focusing and developing appropriate skills in financial/family responsibility; occupational goals; re-entry/reintergration training; work site job experiences; accountability/anger management; recidivism reduction; and development of life skills. Target populations are inmates who are unable to develop an adequate release plan and those at high risk for re-offense due to life skill deficits.

Procedures: The four major program components proposed for Forward include: 1)systematic release planning for all inmates, 2) Life Skills programming in prison units for inmates who are in the targeted populations, as identified in a life skill needs assessment, 3) Transitional life skills services for individuals releasing from prison or those in danger of returning to prison as parole or suspended sentence violators, and 4) direct services and support for the continuation of life skills development and implementation in the community after release from prison.

Outcomes/Results/Products: The SD DOC estimates 235 inmates/parolees will be served in year one in FORWARD's target groups and 425 targeted inmates/parolees will be served annually in years two and three. Additional inmates will participate in FORWARD classes on an elective basis. Forward is designed to positively impact successful release rates from SD DOC prisons by reducing the number of inmates held in prison beyond their first parole date due to inadequate release plans and by reducing the number of parole violations related to deficits in life skills.

We welcome your feedback; send comments, questions, and suggestions to oce@inet.ed.gov

Demonstration Projects

This page last modified February 27, 2003 (syr)