Coming Home for Good 

Fresh Start is a model approach to one of America's most serious and costly problems. 

"There are over 12,000 ex-offenders released from prison each year in Connecticut"

Most of them face challenges managing the most basic ingredients for successful reintegration into society. This includes finding employment and housing, reconnecting with their families and communities, and accessing substance abuse and behavioral health services.

Learn how Fresh Start provides an innovative solution to this growing problem:

• Fresh Start's Holistic Approach to Reentry
• Four Keys to Successful Prison Reentry
• Fresh Start's Comprehensive Program
• Community Partners
• Research Study by Yale University
• Reentry Programs Make a Difference!
• For More Information

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Fresh Start's Holistic Approach to Reentry

The Fresh Start Community Reentry Program is an innovative model that helps soon-to-be released prisoners before leaving prison, during transition, and after "coming home". This holistic approach recognizes the need to prepare prisoners to return safely to the community and to assist them with reintegrating as law abiding, productive citizens.

Four Keys to Successful Prisoner Reentry

• Early and long-term engagement with offenders creates a strong bond
• Creative employment solutions because finding employment is essential for survival.
• Mentoring support from successful EX-offenders amplifies success and breaks the cycle.
• Involvement of the entire family heals, inspires, and sustains change.

Fresh Start's Comprehensive Program

Fresh Start is for men returning home to Bridgeport, CT from a Connecticut prison:

Pre-Release Planning

• Prepares prisoners 3 to 6 months before release.
• Paves the way for reconnecting with family and securing employment.
• Includes working with successful ex-offender mentors.

Post-Release Services

• Creative solutions to employment challenges.
• Intensive case management and family support.
• Behavioral health and substance abuse services.
• Supportive community network built by ex-offenders.

Continued Support

• Offers support from successful ex-offenders.
• Provides drop-in services as needed.
• Shifts responsibility for success to the individual and their supportive network.

Community Partners

Fresh Start is operated in partnership with the CT Department of Correction and Family ReEntry is a founding member of the Bridgeport Reentry Roundtable.

Research Study by Yale University

The outcomes from the Fresh Start study, conducted by Yale University, is being used to shape policy and replicate the best practices to be used in other communities. Preliminary outcomes show that Fresh Start's recidivism rate is 6% versus 40% in Connecticut. Our employment rate is 86% versus 20% to 50% for ex-offenders nationally.

Reentry Programs Make a Difference!

• Ex-offenders build trust through long program attachment and successes.
• Individuals are inspired to do better for themselves and give back.
• The potential for a better future becomes a real possibility.
• The natural web of community support can help reduce their chance of re-offending.
• Hope and vitality can be restored in families and communities.
• The intergenerational cycle of crime and incarceration can be stopped.
• Viable employment options give individuals a more stable future.

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