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Project START
Project START is an effective re-entry program focusing on reducing HIV/STD/hepatitis risk reduction. The original research was among 18-29 year old men being released from prison. It has now been adapted for all individuals who are returning to the community after incarceration, regardless of age, gender, HIV status, or detention setting.
Quick Facts:
- Focus of initiative/program:
- Children and Families
- Education
- Employment/Job Training
- Housing
- Law Enforcement
- Sheriff
- Police
- Mental Health
- Physical Health
- Substance Abuse
- Task Force / Coalitions
- HIV/STD and hepatitis risk reduction
- Inititative/program name:
- Project START
- Year Established:
- 2008
- Lead agency/organization name:
- The Bridging Group
- Population served by initiative/program:
- Returning from local detention facilities
- Returning from local jails
- Returning from prison
- Not under community corrections supervision
- Under community corrections supervision (parole or probation)
- Adults
- Juveniles
- Men
- Women
- People convicted of a violent offense
- People convicted of a non-violent offense
- Gang members
- Elderly
- Tribal populations
- Sex offenders
- anyone being released from a prison, jail or other detention setting
Downloads
Project START
Contact:
Barry ZackCEO, Corrections and Health
The Bridging Group
4096 Piedmont Ave., Suite 710
Oakland, Nationwide 94611
barry@thebridginggroup.com
www.thebridginggroup.com
Project START
Initiatives and Programs
- Focus of initiative/program:
- Children and Families
- Education
- Employment/Job Training
- Housing
- Law Enforcement
- Sheriff
- Police
- Mental Health
- Physical Health
- Substance Abuse
- Task Force / Coalitions
- HIV/STD and hepatitis risk reduction
- Inititative/program name:
- Project START
- Lead agency/organization name:
- The Bridging Group
- Funding sources for initiative/program:
- Federal, State, Local and NGO
- X
- X
- X
- X
- X
- X
- X
- X
- X
- X
- X
Funding
Partners in the reentry initiative/program
| Informal Agreement | Formal Agreement (e.g., a written contract or an MOU) with this partner. |
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| Community- and faith-based services providers: |
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| Education and training providers (e.g., local public school officials, vocational instructors): |
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| Health, mental health, and substance abuse treatment providers: |
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| Housing officials: |
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| Institutional corrections (e.g., DOC, jail, prison): |
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| Law enforcement agencies (e.g., police, sheriff's office): |
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| Members of the community (e.g., people who have been incarcerated, their families or neighbors): |
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| Other criminal justice agencies (e.g., prosecutors, judges): |
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| Transportation providers: |
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| Victim advocates: |
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| Work force development and employment agencies (e.g. business associations, unions): |
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Participants
- Population served by initiative/program:
- Returning from local detention facilities
- Returning from local jails
- Returning from prison
- Not under community corrections supervision
- Under community corrections supervision (parole or probation)
- Adults
- Juveniles
- Men
- Women
- People convicted of a violent offense
- People convicted of a non-violent offense
- Gang members
- Elderly
- Tribal populations
- Sex offenders
- anyone being released from a prison, jail or other detention setting
- Total number of people who have participated in initiative/program to date:
- Project START has served over 500 participants at multiple research, program pilot and intervention sites across the country.
- Total number of people currently participating in initiative/program:
- 250
- Total number of people who can be served at one time:
- 50 participants per staff person per year.
- If your initiative/program serves people under community corrections supervision, how does your organization work in partnership or work in collaboration with participants’ probation or parole officers?
- It is encouraged that agencies implementing Project START have an active partnership with local parole and probation departments to best serve reentry efforts.
Data Collection
- Does your organization collect demographic data on participants?
- Yes
- If "yes", what kind of data? And what results has this data yielded?
- The original research of Project START collected extensive demographic data. Example demographic data are age, race/ethnicity, education level, relationship status, sexual and drug risk behaviors. Numerous publications have resulted from this study. See attachments.
- Does your organization collect data about the process of your initiative/program?
- Yes
- If "yes", what kind of data? And what results has this data yielded?
- The attached article describes in detail the design and implementation activities associated with the process and fidelity protocols.
- Does your organization measure and/or track the outcome of participation?
- Yes
- If "yes", what kind of data? And what results has this data yielded?
- See attached outcome article of Project START as it relates to sexual and drug risk behaviors.
Activities
- What, if any, activities does your initiative/program include for people while they are incarcerated and how do these activities differ from those offered to the general population?
- Project START includes both enrollment and two (individual) sessions in the 90 days prior to release from custody. These two sessions include 1) risk reduction planning, 2) broader transitional needs planning as well as intensive immediate planning for the first 48 hours post release.
- What activities does your organization engage in post-release and how do these activities differ from those offered to the general population?
- Project START includes (at minimum) four (4) sessions in the 90 days following release. These sessions support participants in reviewing and updating their post release risk reduction and transitional plans, as well as provide facilitated referrals to a wide range of community providers, including housing, treatment, job training, etc.
- How are people placed into your program?
- Recruitment takes place inside the facility through various mechanisms including direct referrals from correctional medical providers, social workers, counselors, teachers and other programs within the facility as well as one on one outreach.