Network For Better Futures

Programs: Better futures businesses create jobs and help participants develop marketable skills. Participants are employed in one of two lines of business: property maintenance and waste recycling/reuse, including building deconstruction. This enterprise generates multiple benefits: it provides employment, on-the-job training, and income or participant workers; it contributes earned income to the organization; and, it produces significant environmental benefits for the community. Better futures embraces men living in chronic poverty with histories of persistent unemployment, untreated mental illness, addiction, incarceration, and homelessness. Its integrated care model responds to participants most basic needs affordable housing and a job. Once these needs are met, the impact of other services accelerates (health home and coaching using a trauma informed care approach). This model is anchored by meaningful relationships and a vibrant community. The men served by this social enterprise are not in a process of re-entry; rather their life experience is a public health problem that originates n core hurts and trauma. Healing from these traumas is essential before they can succeed as workers, fathers, and community members. Better futures is achieving high rates of employment, increased access to health care and behavioral health services, increased engagement between fathers and children, and lower conviction rates for new crimes. A preliminary analysis also indicates that better futures participants experience a lower return to prison rate for new crimes the longer they stay engaged with the enterprise. Based on these promising results, leaders in other communities are seeking information and advice about how to adapt this model for high risk adults. An on-going development partnership with several communities was established in 2013.