COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR JUSTICE INC

COMMUNITY STRATEGIES-MASSACHUSETTS (CSMA) PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL, VOCATIONAL, AND CLINICAL SERVICES TO ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN A SUPPORTIVE, THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1993, CSMA HAS EVOLVED INTO A SPECIALIZED SERVICE PROVIDER WITH UNIQUE EXPERTISE IN SERVING INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH PAST INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. WITH AN EMPHASIS ON UTILIZING POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS (PBS), CSMA'S GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE AS INDEPENDENTLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE COMMUNITY.CSMA OPERATES GROUP HOMES (SERVING 170 INDIVIDUALS) AND SHARED LIVING ARRANGEMENTS (SERVING 55 INDIVIDUALS) IN NUMEROUS COMMUNITIES. PRESENTLY, THE PROGRAM'S PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE IS THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES (DDS). FUNDING IS ALSO PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH (DMH), MASSACHUSETTS REHABILITATION COMMISSION (MRC), AND CT DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES (DMHAS). CSMA IS SUCCESSFUL WHEN INDIVIDUALS BUILD ON THEIR SOCIAL AND LIFE SKILLS, HAVE GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCLUSION IN THE COMMUNITY, SECURE MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT, AND REQUIRE LESS EXTERNAL STRUCTURE. CSMA PROVIDES A CONTINUUM OF SUPPORT, RANGING FROM GROUP PROGRAMS WITH 24/7 SUPERVISION, THROUGH SHARED LIVING WITH A HOME PROVIDER, TO CASE MANAGEMENT WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL LIVES INDEPENDENTLY WITH MINIMAL SUPPORT.OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE TRANSITIONED SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS FROM GROUP HOME PROGRAMS INTO SHARED LIVING HOMES. CSMA HAS ALSO CONTINUED TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE OBTAINED AND SUCCESSFULLY MAINTAINED COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE REQUIRED LESS FORMAL JOB COACHING TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THE INDIVIDUALS WE SERVE INCREASINGLY ATTEND COMMUNITY COLLEGE, FORMALLY STUDY FOR THEIR GED, TAKE VOCATIONAL CLASSES, AND ATTEND RELIGIOUS STUDY CLASSES. MANY MORE INDIVIDUALS HAVE DEVELOPED QUALITY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS INCREASED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HAS BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY A HIGH LEVEL OF DEMONSTRATED PROACTIVE SOCIAL SKILLS, COMMUNITY AWARENESS, AND SAFE BEHAVIOR.

SOCIAL JUSTICE SERVICES (SJS) OPERATES COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL REENTRY PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE TRANSITIONING FROM INCARCERATION TO THE COMMUNITY. IN FY2025, CRJ'S COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL REENTRY PROGRAMS SERVED 808 RESIDENTS REFERRED BY FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS PAROLE AND PROBATION AGENCIES. USING EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS, OUR GOAL IS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE COMMUNITY AND NOT RETURN TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. PRESENTLY, THE PROGRAM'S PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE IS THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS AND THE MASSACHUSETTS PROBATION SERVICE. BASED ON A COMPREHENSIVE RISK-NEED-RESPONSIVITY ASSESSMENT, OUR REENTRY PROGRAMS ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, SUPPORT TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, AND ANY OTHER SERVICES IDENTIFIED AS NECESSARY DURING THE ASSESSMENT. CRJ'S REENTRY PROGRAMS OFFER A BALANCE OF SUPERVISION, STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT. THE INTENT IS TO ENABLE THESE MEN AND WOMEN TO BREAK OUT OF THE CYCLE OF INCARCERATION THROUGH LIFE-CHANGING PROGRAMMING THAT REDUCES RECIDIVISM AND BUILDS SAFER, STRONGER COMMUNITIES.ALL RESIDENTIAL REENTRY PROGRAMS PROVIDE EDUCATION SUPPORT AND ENRICHMENT SERVICES, INCLUDING LIFE SKILLS, EDUCATIONAL AND CREATIVE ARTS GROUPS AND CLASSES, MENTORS FROM LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER PROGRAMMING. ADDITIONALLY, STAFF EDUCATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDE BASIC TRAINING FOR NEWLY HIRED STAFF, RISK-NEED-RESPONSIVITY ASSESSMENT CERTIFICATION, PREA TRAINING, EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTION CURRICULA, CPR AND FIRST AID. ONGOING MONTHLY BOOSTER SESSIONS ENSURE COMPETENCY ANNUALLY FOR ALL STAFF.