Community Education Centers, Inc.’s (CEC) 64-bed therapeutic community (TC) program “Future Foundations” inside the Northampton County Prison held its one year anniversary and fourth graduation ceremony today. Including today’s fifteen graduates, forty six offenders have graduated since the program’s inception in September 2008.

“Today is a very special days for the Northampton County Future Foundations program.  We are excited to mark one successful year of providing quality reentry treatment services for Northampton County by graduating fifteen more offenders from the program. I would like to thank all staff for their dedication and service,” said Mary Rose Worthington, Southeast Region Director at CEC.

The TC program includes comprehensive life skills and reentry training focused on the needs of male offenders and consists of individual assessments, individual and group counseling, substance abuse treatment, educational groups, skills-based trainings. The program includes three phases of treatment.  As offenders progress through the program they “phase up” to a higher level of treatment.  The TC utilizes a social structure that enables the offender to learn and practice pro-social skills while incarcerated.  Each program member participates on a committee and has a job within the community.

Seven offenders participating in the TC studied for and passed the official GED test while a member of the community. Graduates who are released to the community or to community corrections attend an aftercare group once a week to continue their treatment and to obtain support while reentering the community.

“The program addresses the reentry needs of each individual offender and utilizes the therapeutic community model that has been proven through university-based research tor reduce recidivism. Offenders that complete the 6 month program are less likely to re-offend, which increases public safety and strengthens families, communities, and Northampton County,” said Rebecca Duke-Walker, CEC Program Director.

The CEC Alumni Association will begin at the Future Foundations program  in late September. The Alumni Association assists offenders in their transition from treatment back into the community through the provision of supportive services as they face the obstacles and difficulties associated with remaining pro-social members of their families and community. The Alumni Association is comprised of former offenders who have successfully completed a CEC program.

Community Education Centers, Inc. (CEC) is the largest provider of offender reentry and in-prison treatment services in America, operating in 19 states, with nearly 30,000 individuals in our daily care. CEC provides a full range of therapeutic residential and non-residential reentry services with a documented record of reducing recidivism. The company specializes in the reentry process and has developed the most effective reentry treatment model in the nation. CEC contracts with local, county, state, and federal government agencies.