Expansion of Intervention Model for High-Risk Young Mothers

A growing group of young mothers across Connecticut is experiencing high levels of victimization, inclusive of domestic violence, abuse, trafficking, and exploitation. Often overlooked, they are at risk of permanent separation from their children, incarceration, deportation, or, in the worst-case scenario, losing their lives. To begin to address this growing need, in October 2021 Roca opened its High-Risk Young Mothers Program in Hartford, CT, recognizing that an increasing number of young women were impacted by gun violence, experiencing victimization, and at risk of losing their children. In FY23 alone, Roca Hartford served 100 of the highest risk young women in Connecticut and retained 80% of them in programming.  On average, 90% of participants were engaged each month, and 89% of participants were engaged in Rewire CBT.  Of the 100 served, 79% had no new arrest and 100% had no new incarcerations.  Additionally, of those enrolled 18 months or longer, 97% demonstrated improved behavioral health and 89% had improved emotional regulation. 

While these successes show our model works, Roca Hartford has maintained a waiting list since we launched in CT.  Roca is seeking $577,000 to be spent over two years to expand this work in Hartford.

To serve Hartford's young mothers on a level more commensurate with actual need, Roca will: 1) reach and serve another 50 of the highest-risk young women and their children each  year (and reduce or eliminate the wait list that sometimes requires new referrals to wait 2-3 months or more for entry into the program); 2) expand participation in the transitional employment program, which is subsidized employment that provides young people the opportunity to learn critical job skills by working, while also serving as a behavior change accelerator;  3) evaluate critical program elements that lead to effective service delivery and positive outcomes for young women and children; and 4) work with key partners across organizations and systems to create a statewide working group to identify the highest risk young mothers and children, document their challenges and make recommendations, and develop and implement robust education for state agencies and other institutions to better reach and serve them.