CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : n******l@c*******************s.o*g
Mission Statement
Our mission is to promote reintegrative justice and a reduced reliance on incarceration through advocacy, services and public policy development in pursuit of civil and human rights.
About This Cause
CCA is a leader in the field of community-based alternatives to incarceration including: Mitigation Services: CCA’s Client Specific Planning/Court Advocacy services in both Syracuse and Brooklyn provide sentencing mitigation services, dispositional planning and alternative-to-detention/incarceration and placement services. Counsel often request services to assist in the representation of participants by preparing a defense-based mitigation report which includes extensive interviews with the participant and their significant others, review of life history and mitigating factors, and an analysis of sentencing options including alternatives to incarceration. Youth/Young Adult Services: CCA offers an array of programs serving at-risk youth in both Brooklyn and Syracuse. CCA’s Bridge program helps youth at Rikers Island ages 18 to 21 make successful transitions into schooling, jobs and stable housing. CCA’s Youth Advocacy Program serves youth referred for alternatives to incarceration. Youth in Brooklyn also have access to mentoring and the Youth Pathways Internship program which offers paid work readiness opportunities in fields such as filmmaking, fashion and culinary arts. In Syracuse, CCA provides services within the City of Syracuse School District designed to keep youth in school as well as help out-of-school youth return to mainstream school through its Transition Coach Program and Student Advocacy Program. CCA also provides after school programming for high school students at risk of dropping out as well as Violence Prevention Education and peer educator training to middle and high school-aged students in Syracuse. Reintegration Services: CCA offers an array of employment-related services for individuals with criminal justice involvement including cognitive behavioral interventions, transitional planning, job readiness and job development training as well as job placement and job retention. CCA also assists participants to connect with educational and vocational training opportunities including internship and apprenticeship opportunities. In addition, CCA’s Reentry Clinic provides civic restoration legal services to assist individuals with criminal records overcome employment, educational and housing barriers associated with a criminal record. Recovery & Treatment Services: CCA’s Brooklyn Crossroads is an OASAS-licensed substance use outpatient treatment program which provides gender-specific services to men and women with criminal justice involvement. In Syracuse, CCA partners with Crouse Chemical Dependency Treatment Services to provide substance use treatment for individuals being released from Onondaga Correctional Facilities. In addition to licensed substance use treatment programs, CCA operates Recovery and Outreach Centers in both Syracuse and Rochester, New York. These Centers support the development of strong, healthy peer communities and collaborations with partner agencies which evidence has shown are key elements in successful recovery. Housing Services: Freedom Commons is a pioneering joint venture between CCA and the Syracuse Housing Authority which provides affordable housing for low-income families including housing for people reentering the community from prison/jail. Freedom Commons includes 45 affordable apartments for low-income individuals and families as well as nine (9) supportive apartments reserved for individuals with histories of homelessness and criminal justice involvement. In addition, Freedom Commons Academy will provide three (3) emergency and transitional units for between 9 and 13 individuals with criminal justice histories who are experiencing homelessness. Freedom Commons/Freedom Academy will not only provide affordable housing/shelter but also case management and other supportive services both on- and off-site. Organizing and Advocacy: In addition to direct services, CCA aims to bring about a more just and humane criminal justice system through advocacy and public policy initiatives including monitoring the implementation of Raise the Age legislation, banning the box on SUNY college admission applications and efforts to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline.