Chicago is set to launch its first Community Reentry Support Center (CRSC) specifically for women who have been affected by the criminal justice system. The Mayor's Office of Reentry, in partnership with the Chicago Department of Family and Supportive Services (DFSS), released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the establishment of the CRSC, announced DFSS on May 19th. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed that true public safety involves making sure "every Chicagoan has access to opportunity, healing, and support," particularly those who have historically been marginalized and underserved. The effort comes on the heels of the reentry summit last month, titled "Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: A Unified Path to Hope and Reentry," which called attention to the specific challenges women face upon reentry.
The RFP seeks community-based organizations dedicated to providing gender-responsive care. Proposals are due by June 20th, 2025, and the goal is to have the center up and running by January 2026. Mayor Johnson noted the initiative is aimed at empowering women, who, despite making up a smaller portion of the incarcerated population, often face more complex challenges upon their return. The center will offer a range of services designed to directly respond to the needs expressed by women who have been incarcerated or otherwise impacted by the system, according to a statement from the Mayor's Office.
Services slated for the Women's Reentry Center include trauma-responsive navigation, mental and behavioral health connections, housing and employment assistance, family reunification, and wellness, as well as holistic care. Joseph Mapp, the Director of the Mayor's Office of Reentry, emphasized that the center is a direct response to the testimonies of women who highlighted gaps and voiced their needs in reentry services. He stated, "we are listening, and we are acting."
What's more, this new initiative comes as part of the Johnson administration's broader People's Plan for Community Safety, which focuses on community healing and non-carceral support for those hardest hit by systemic disparities. DFSS Acting Commissioner Maura McCauley said, "The establishment of a new woman-focused CRSC is progress that cannot be overstated." McCauley highlighted the unique hurdles that women face when they return from incarceration, often jumping back into roles as primary caregivers and looking to rebuild stability. The addition of the woman-focused CRSC is intended to provide a secure space offering a wide array of services tailored to women's needs, according to a statement from the DFSS.
This development represents a significant step forward for Chicago's reentry services, acknowledging the distinctive obstacles women face and striving to address them with compassion and understanding.
