Family ReEntry Celebrates 20 Years of Prison Transition Program with Open Reception

Family ReEntry, a leading nonprofit supporting families impacted by the criminal justice system, today announced a special, open reception and presentation celebrating 20 years of providing pre-release transition services to the State of Connecticut's young incarcerated males.

"We're inviting the public to come and see what we've accomplished in 20 years and what is happening in the next 20 years," John Mele, Coordinator of the Transition Mentoring Program, explained. "We want as many people as possible to come out and celebrate with us and learn about how our program is decreasing the re-incarceration rate in the State of Connecticut."

Held on Friday, October 26th from 7:00-8:30pm at the Orange Hills Country Club, 389 Racebrook Road, in Orange, CT, Family ReEntry welcomes the general public to a free cocktail reception where the staff will share an overview of the Family ReEntry organization, and have a brief award recognition and special feature presentation from some of the transitioned young men who are now thriving as positive, productive members of society. "Sharing their real life experiences is their way of giving back to the program," Mele continued. "It is one way that supports the continuation of the program."

Three years ago, the State of CT ended the funding for the Transition Program, but Family ReEntry has continued to provide this vital program. At its upcoming event, Family ReEntry informs all attendees about opportunities that are available to help by considering donating time, money or resources that will go toward supporting the program and extending its services.

Daee McKnight, Co-Coordinator of the program and a transition mentor, said, "Family Reentry Transitions Mentoring program provides a stable, positive support system that helps to facilitate change in the lives of the many young men that participate in the program. I understand from my own personal experience of navigating through the reentry process, how crucial the support system is, as well as the resources. We have witnessed many young men who have gone from having no hope to living out their true potential, embracing stability and having personal success. Join us in partnership to continue this impactful program through our joint efforts."

Family ReEntry describes its full program as The Transitions Youth Mentoring Program, which provides pre­release services at Manson Youth Institution (Connecticut) for young men ages 14-22 with a primary focus on developing life skills through mentoring, education, and family intervention support. The Transitions Mentoring Program's main goal is to help young men make positive connections with their families, peers and communities. Transitions further works to continue its connections with young men post-release to assist in re­ integrating into school, the workforce, and their communities. Students from Yale University have partnered with Transitions to provide tutoring services for GED and post GED, while the young men are still incarcerated. Transitions Program has also developed a dedicated mentor network that provides each mentee with a mentor prior to release and continues when released into the community.

About Family ReEntry:
Family ReEntry is a 501c3 nonprofit, which was founded in 1984 as a reentry support group for men at the Isaiah House in Bridgeport. It has since grown to include policy advocacy, and intervention, prevention, in-prison, reentry, fatherhood and youth & family programs. Over the past 34 years, effective advocacy efforts and community-based programs developed by Family ReEntry have significantly reduced the likelihood that clients will re-offend, be re-arrested, or be re-incarcerated. Its programs provide a spectrum of services designed to disrupt the intergenerational cycle of incarceration. Family ReEntry addresses the specific needs of each client and their families through individualized case management and support services. It works to create a positive social network for each client, helping make their transition from prison back into the community a successful, self-sufficient one, while strengthening their families and the community. Family ReEntry has offices in eight Connecticut cities: Bridgeport, Norwalk, New Haven, Waterbury, Derby, New London and Norwich. More information is available at www.familyreentry.org and on its social media including, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube.