Release Engage Network Employee Win
The RENEW program started in September of 2018 as an opportunity to assist individuals releasing from federal prison to the Boston area. RENEW initially was a partnership between the U.S. Probation Office, City of Boston, and the Gavin Foundation. The goal of the program was to expand upon the work that then Mayor Marty Walsh had done to offer opportunities to men and women releasing from prison.
The U.S. Probation Office provided funding through the “Second Chance Act.” The Second Chance Act of 2007 expanded the Courts’ contracting authority to provide a wider array of interventions which probation officers could use to mitigate offenders’ specific risks and responsivity factors. The funding can be used for emergency housing, transportation, job training, and education. Having access to this funding allows the probation department to be innovative and identify and develop programs that assist the population we serve as they transition from federal prison back to the community.
The initial group of men had significant criminal histories including one who had served more than 15 years in federal prison. The initial opportunity was for sixty days of employment at the Gavin Foundation. The probation office utilized Second Chance Funds and the City of Boston provided funding that paid the men wages for working 35 hours per week. The day-to-day work included maintenance, landscaping, painting, and furniture refinishing. During the sixty-day period, the RENEW team met with the men, identified their long-term-goals and strategized how to assist them find their next opportunity. The City of Boston secured additional funding that kept these men employed for another sixty days into January of 2019. All three men graduated from RENEW and remain employed full-time, one at the Gavin Foundation, one with the City of Boston, and one with Local 223.
The momentum of a graduation ceremony in February of 2019 allowed RENEW to continue and the program to expand. The model was expanded to 12 weeks, a wellness component at the Phoenix Gym in Boston was added, and Gavin Foundation began to utilize cognitive behavioral treatment and mentors. All components strengthened the program and provided more support to the participants. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office became a partner along with the U.S Attorney’s Office and other community agencies. Despite the pandemic, Gavin Foundation continued to get men into the program and onto long-term employment opportunities.
Since September of 2018, over 50 men who are identified as moderate to high risk on our risk assessment have been given the opportunity to enroll in the RENEW program. Many of them have continued on to other opportunities and have remained out of the criminal justice system.