Since 2007, the Harvard Business School Club of Connecticut Community Partners (HBSCCCP) has been awarding $20,00 per year to Connecticut non-profits which have a positive impact on the community. The Turbo Award given by HBS “challenges nonprofits to improve an existing program, to launch a new initiative, or to enhance overall organizational effectiveness” by encouraging the organizations to “ turbo-charge” their effectiveness.
This year’s $20,000 award went to the Connecticut Pre Engineering Program in Middletown for the group’s work with middle school students. The award will enable CPEP to bring in more students to build projects in the area of science and technology. But HBSCCCP chose to give out a second prize.
The Turbo Award Committee also gave $5000 to Family Reentry, Inc. of Norwalk. Family Reentry will use their award toward formalizing their Fresh Start Training Program, and to reach up to 150 participants yearly.
The Fresh Start Program currently aids almost forty individuals to successfully reenter their communities after prison. In a state where over 12,000 people are released from prison yearly, being able to help more formerly incarcerated persons through its innovative programs has long been the goal of Fresh Start.
The Fresh Start Program owes its success to its three-component model. Fresh Start initially reaches out to inmates while they are still in prison by helping them with pre release planning. Once the inmate is released, Fresh Start offers support services in areas such as substance abuse treatment, reconnecting with family, and obtaining employment. The support does not stop after the formerly incarcerated person completes the program. Former participants are encouraged to seek support successful ex offenders at Fresh Start, and are welcome to stop by anytime.
According to a study by Yale University, Fresh Start’s approach to reentry was able to significantly lower the recidivism rate of its participants to six percent, compared to the 40 percent Connecticut average. Fresh Start was also cited in the Yale report for having an employment rate of 86 per cent for its clients, when the national average for ex offenders is between 20 to 40 percent. The HBSCCCP award will help Fresh Start expand its capacity and continue its excellent reentry program.
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