Citizens—Community Enhancement Project
Through a grant from the Yale Institution for Social and Policy Studies, PRCH provided the evaluation component of a CT Dept of Mental Health and Addiction Services funded jail diversion and social inclusion project entitled the Citizens-Community Enhancement Project, a collaborative endeavor of the Connecticut Mental Health Center and Columbus House.
The Citizens-Community Enhancement Project tests the effectiveness of an innovative model for community integration and social inclusion, using the framework of citizenship," developed by PRCH over the past several years.
The Citizens-Community Enhancement Project provides
- nontraditional classes geared toward understanding the rights and responsibilities of community membership while also educating participants about work and social opportunities, followed by
- a valued role/ giving back project in the community, with
- peer mentorship for participants.
The evaluation involves comparing clinical, criminal justice, and community outcomes for clients receiving jail diversion and CMHC services alone with clients receiving jail diversion and CMHC services plus the Citizens-Community Enhancement intervention. The program and evaluation are both ongoing, but initial data analysis has already determined a statistically significant reduction in alcohol use among intervention participants.
For more information about the Citizens Project, please contact Michael Rowe, Ph.D.
