Bridgeport Reentry Initiative

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Bridgeport Reentry Initiative

• Program Model for Creating Change
• Presented by Marcia Hughes, Ph.D.
• Center for Social Research, University of
  Hartford
• September 30, 2009

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Stages of Program Implementation(Fixsen, Naoom,
Blasé, Friedman, Wallace, 2005)

• Exploration Adoption Identify the need for an
  intervention, acquire information, and mobilize
  support.

• Program Installation Active preparation, using
  and leveraging resources (funding, staff, policy
  development), hiring staff, secure space

• Initial Implementation Complexity change
  skill levels, capacity, culture of organization
  requires time to mature awkward stage

• Full Operation New learning becomes integrated
  fully operational, referrals are flowing
  eventually accepted practice

• Innovation New staff under different conditions
  can lead to program drift vs. innovation first
  implement with fidelity to model, then innovate

• Sustainability need to adjust, maintain program
  component in shifting ecology - funding, skilled
  practitioners, political alliances, social
  problems

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Purpose of Todays Talk

• Articulate the model for creating change
• Is everyone on the same page?
• If not, need to clarify/modify as needed

• Program Focus/Development

• Evaluation of program
• Process and Outcome evaluation
• Measures and data collection

• Program Development Evaluation Questions

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Need for Intervention Purpose of the Project

• The Problem or Need for intervention
• Many people returning to Bridgeport community are
  not succeeding in term of employment, supporting
  themselves families
• High recidivism rates
• 3. Little to no transitional support for people
  being released from prison.
• 4. Need systemic change shift in the culture
• 5. Economic downturn community unprepared

• Goal of the intervention
• Engage people as soon as possible and equip with
  tools, skills and resources for successful
  reentry.
• Reduce recidivism rates
• Releasing offender receives consistent and
  meaningful support and guidance from pre-release
  to post-release.
• Develop replicable model
• Help equip community to give people returning
  from prison the same consideration given to other
  citizens.

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Program Process Organizational Service Plan
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Target Population
Dysfunctional families History of
Trauma Substance abuse or dependence Criminal
Histories Criminal thinking patterns - attitudes
toward law Cognitive distortions- anger
hostility Social-emotional deviance
High risk, Multiple needs, Violent offenders,
EOS Uninformed on services Different
perspective No role models Limited resources Not
succeeding Need for support, guidance,
supervision Gender difference
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Organization Plan
US Department of Justice CT Dept of
Correction Facility Services Family
Reentry Pre-Release (including
orientation) Post-Release Subcontracts
US Department of Labor Career Resources
Inc. Reentry Works Orientation
Only Post-Release Subcontracts
Each agency represents all of us
N 200
100

• Family Re-entry Fresh Start Reentry
• Career Services, Inc
• Center for Women Families
• The Co-Op Center/Council of Churches
• CT Legal Services

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Organization Plan
Each agency represents all of us
US Department of Justice/ US Department of
Labor CT Dept of Correction
Facility Services
Family
Reentry Career Resources Inc.
Reentry Works Pre-Release (including
orientation) Post-Release Subcontracts

• Making it seamless
• Facility Coordinator
• Community Coordinator

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Services

• Pre-Release Services
• Orientation
• Assessment
• Re-entry workbook
• Job Center
• Transitional Plan

• Post-Release Services
• Utilization of assessment, workbook, transition
  plan (by case manager, p/p)
• Access use of community services case
  management, employment, social reunification,
  life skills

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PROGRAM PROCESS
IMPACT
Quality of Relationships
Collaboration
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Program Focus Mediators Moderators

• Collaboration- In order to address the
  complexity of the issues, need to have
  collaboration Process for creating change.

• Quality of Interpersonal Relationships
  Engagement is critical first step to shaping
  change Culture-shift

• Motivational Interviewing- Change-focused
  Evidence-based methods do not readily diffuse
  into practice

• Moderators/interaction effects-
  individual/family/friend characteristics,
  history, resources

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Basic Evaluation Measures Data Collection
Not enough to say you are making a difference
Need to know how, in what ways, and for whom.
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Other Program Development Evaluation Questions

• 1. Program model What components are necessary?
• Re-entry, assessment

2. Collaboration What does it mean to link
agencies?
3. What is the process through which the
relationship with case manager effects a change?
4. Evaluate utility of assessment tools
Screening, classifying risk, prioritizing
treatment and intensity of service
5. For whom is the project working, in what ways,
and under what conditions? Who are we not
reaching and why?
6. Infrastructure and sustainability Document
lessons learned How to replicate the model?
Deliberative conversations.
7. How can the partners build community awareness
support?