PURPOSE OF PROJECT: TAMPA BAY ACADEMY OF HOPE WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO SERVE HILLSBOROUGH, PASCO, PINELLAS, AND POLK COUNTIES IN FLORIDA IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM TO ASSIST RETURNING VETERANS TRANSITIONING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY BY OBTAINING INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS LEADING TO SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT. TBAH WILL PROVIDE SERVICES TO 160 MALE AND FEMALE RETURNING HOMELESS VETERANS AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE, RESIDING IN ONE OF THE IDENTIFIED STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OR JAIL OR FEDERAL PRISON OR RELEASED WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS OF THE ENROLLMENT DATE INTO THE PROGRAM, SCHEDULED TO RETURN IN ONE OF THE IDENTIFIED TARGETED AREAS, AND LEGALLY ELIGIBLE TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES.. IN ADDITION TO VOCATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING, PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE PRE-RELEASE SERVICE CONSISTING OF JOB PREPARATION, DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS (IDPS) INCLUDING IDENTIFYING BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, CAREER EXPLORATION AND PLANNING, COUNSELING, AND ASSISTANCE WITH LINKING INMATES TO THE SOCIAL SERVICES REQUIRED TO HELP THEM TRANSITION BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. UPON RELEASE RETURNING VETERANS WILL RECEIVE CONTINUED POST-RELEASE SERVICES CONSISTING OF SKILL-BUILDING SERVICES, INCLUDING APPRENTICESHIPS AND OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING IN IN-DEMAND INDUSTRIES THAT LEAD TO INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS. ACTIVITIES TO BE FUNDED: THE PROGRAM LEVERAGES EVIDENCE-BASED AND EVIDENCE-INFORMED MODELS ENCOMPASSING ASSESSMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT, ACADEMIC SUPPORT, OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING, MENTORING, JOB PLACEMENT, SOCIAL SERVICE COORDINATION, WRAPAROUND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, INCENTIVE-BASED OPPORTUNITIES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE. BAH S IVTP PROGRAM ADOPTS AN EXPANSIVE, MULTI DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO ADDRESS RETURNING VETERAN HOMELESSNESS, FOCUSING ON CLIENT-CENTERED CASE MANAGEMENT TO DELIVER EMPLOYMENT AND JOB TRAINING SERVICES. THE OVERALL STRATEGY EMPHASIZES DEVELOPING RELEVANT SKILLS AND CONNECTIONS TO HIGH-QUALITY CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, USING A COMBINATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED AND EVIDENCE-INFORMED INTERVENTIONS TO SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR JOURNEY.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: TBAH WILL SERVE 160 RECENTLY RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION VETERANS, MEANING INCERATED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS WHO ARE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. THESE ALSO INCLUDE PREVIOSLY INCARCERATED VETERANS WHO MEET THE CRITERIA OF HOMELESS VETERANS UNDER THIS FOA. IT ALSO INCLUDES VETERANS WHO ARE A RESIDENT OF A PNAL INSTITUTION, OR AN INSTITUTION THAT PROVIDES LONG-TERM CARE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND IS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS ABSENT REFERRAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THE PROGRAM. OUTCOMES OF PROJECT: CONSISTENT WITH THE FOA REQUIREMENTS, SECOND CHANCE HEROES: VETERAN EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT SERVICES OBJECTIVES, SUPPORT STRATEGIES, AND OUTCOMES ARE FRAMED TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES FOR THIS POPULATION. TBAH PROPOSES THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES FOR A TOTAL OF 165 PARTICIPANTS OVER THREE YEAR: INCREASED EMPLOYMENT AND IMPROVED EMPLOYMENT STATUS FOR 95, EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT FOR IMPROVED JOB SKILLS FOR 132, JOB READINESS FOR 132, CREDENTIALING FOR 68132, DECREASED SUBSTANCE ABUSE BY 60 OF THOSE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, REDUCED RECIDIVISM TO NO HIGHER THAN 20 (33), AND MENTORING FOR AT LEAST 57 FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS.C179KEY PARTNERSHIP: KEY PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE: EMPLOYER PARTNERS: NUJAK CONSTRUCTION, TRANSAM TRUCKING, PLASTIPAK, COCA COLA, TRIORB IT, TAMPA BAY FISHERIES APPRENTICESHIPS PLUMBING ACADEMY, BEE 2 BEE NETWORK, WE BUILD POLK, CDC, BOILERMAKERS, MANUFACTURING, APPLIED TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY, CAREER SOURCE PASCO, CAREER SOURCE HILLSBOROUGH, CAREER SOURCE POLK, CENTRAL FLORIDA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING PARTNERS: SALVATION ARMY, HOMELESS COALITION OF POLK COUNTY, TAMPA HOMELESS HOUSING INITIATIVE, HOUSE OF ISRAEL, NEW LIFE OUTREACH MINISTRY, NEW BEGINNINGS.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: N ARECIPIENT OF OTHER FUNDING:N A