Start corporation (start) proposes to implement a new second chance community-based reentry program

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded a $750,000 Project Grant to START CORPORATION (START) under the Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative (CFDA 16.812) program. The purpose of the grant is to implement a new community-based reentry program in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, providing comprehensive, evidence-based pre- and post-release services. Key program activities include:

• Expansion of START's substance use disorder treatment program, offering 12-week Moral Reconation Therapy and medication-assisted treatment services at the Lafourche Day Reporting Center (LDRC).
• Collaboration with LDRC to develop gender-specific Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous support groups.
• Contracting with Applied Research Services, Inc. (ARS) to conduct an independent program evaluation using propensity score matching.

The intended beneficiaries are recently released men and women ages 18 and older who have been diagnosed with substance use disorder. The project period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

The purpose of the program is to provide comprehensive, evidence-based, pre- and post-release services in lafourche parish, louisiana, in collaboration with the lafourche parish correctional complex and the lafourche day reporting center (ldrc). Project activities include: starts expansion of its substance use disorder treatment program, which will provide 12-week moral reconation therapy through an intensive outpatient program inside the ldrc and medication-assisted treatment services as needed. Start will collaborate with the ldrc to develop gender-specific narcotics anonymous and alcoholics anonymous support groups. Start will contract with applied research services, INC. (ARS), a national consulting firm in atlanta, georgia, to provide an independent evaluation. ARS will implement propensity score matching, a quasi-experimental method in which ARS will use statistical techniques to construct an artificial control group by matching each treated unit with a non-treated unit of similar characteristics to evaluate program outcomes. Expected outcomes include reduction in risk scores, substance use activities, and recidivism rates. Recently released men and women ages 18 and older who have been diagnosed with substance use disorder are the intended beneficiaries of the project.