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The Evidence for Strengthening Families |
Residents of Manhattan's lower east side can't expect to find canned beans and frozen chicken anymore at 272 East Third Street, the previous site of a bodega (Spanish for grocery store). But what they will encounter are the resources for something far more satisfying than a burrito con carne. Freedom from addiction. La Bodega de La Familia, founded in 1996, is a family case management center for people with substance abuse or mental health problems who are on probation or parole. Rather than targeting only the needs of offenders, the center offers a wide range of counseling, services, and resources that meet families' needs so they can support their loved one struggling with addiction. The center's model asserts that offenders able to draw upon the help and accountability of strong families are better able to avoid relapse.
La Bodega's track record is impressive. A study by the Vera Institute of Justice in 2002 indicated that six months spent in the program significantly reduced offenders' illegal drug use. Before entering the program, 80% of the study group used illegal drugs. After 6 months, this number dropped to 42%. Recidivism rates for the group were nearly cut in half. La Bodega's practices are widely celebrated and esteemed as evidence that strengthening families helps offenders succeed in society. And the taste of success sure beats a can of beans.
For more on family strengthening, see Incarceration and the Family.
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