[§367D‑2]  Model programs; departmentof public safety.  Subject to funding by the legislature, the director ofpublic safety shall foster a gender-responsive environment by providing modelgender-responsive programs for female offenders that are responsive tostatewide needs and geographical areas and shall award contracts for theprograms.  The gender-responsive environment and programs shall:

(1)  Respond in a rehabilitative way to the type ofoffenses female offenders generally commit and address pathways to crime;

(2)  Respond to the problems of female offenders withdependent children;

(3)  Respond to the importance of developingself-determination through independent living and marketable job skills;

(4)  Assist female offenders in overcoming their ownextreme degree of dependency by developing and fostering strong and healthyrelationships without losing self-esteem;

(5)  Respond appropriately to the specific health careneeds of women, including but not limited to mental health and substance abuseservices;

(6)  Offer transitional support for female offendersand their families to promote successful reentry into their families andcommunities; and

(7)  Offer technical assistance and training towardthe implementation of other similar programs. [L 2006, c 258, pt of §2]