Turning hope into evidence - A pilot study preparing for evaluation of the Never Give Up Transitional Living Program (2026)

Principal Investigator: Dr. Jennifer Tostlebe
Supported By (internal): UNO University Committee on Research and Creative Activity

Each year, more than 400,000 individuals are released from U.S. prisons, including approximately 2,000 in Nebraska. This transition from incarceration to the community is often marked by housing instability and employment barriers, which contribute to high rates of reoffending. Transitional living programs aim to disrupt this cycle by providing structured housing and supportive services, yet rigorous evaluations of these programs remain limited. This pilot project leverages an existing research-practitioner partnership to prepare the Omaha-based Never Give Up Transitional Living program for a future outcome evaluation. Specifically, this study will assess recruitment and retention feasibility of treatment and control groups, pilot logic model-grounded baseline and follow-up survey instruments, and evaluate the plausibility of quasi-experimental analytic strategies under real-world constraints. Findings will inform the design of a competitive external funding proposal and position the investigator to generate policy-relevant evidence on community-based reentry interventions.

This is a summer project funded internally by the UNO University Committee on Research and Creative Activity (UCRCA).