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January Currents Issue, 2005
Public Safety and the World of Work
Kevin Costin, LMSW, Executive Director, ComALERT, Brooklyn’s
D.A.’s Office
Prior to my graduate studies at Columbia, my notion of social work had been of clinicians in traditional host settings. At school, however, the “triple-threat” clinical, policy and advocacy skills of the generalist attracted me; so, I calculated that the “world of work”, which Dr. Sheila Akabas described, would be the best fit for me. So far, the choice has paid off.
In 1999, I was hired by the Brooklyn District Attorney to implement a
public safety program for formerly incarcerated individuals to reduce
re-incarceration in Brooklyn. My mandate was to conduct a community needs
assessment and to develop a program that would address the barriers to
the services that foster recidivism, particularly rampant joblessness.
I discovered that 4 neighborhoods comprise the bulk of formerly incarcerated
individuals, costing the tax-payers nearly $100 million for incarceration
costs; 80% of these individuals had histories of chronic unemployment
and substance abuse, and, no health insurance; and, that, over a three-year
period, half of the 5,000 individuals released to Brooklyn annually would
be back in prison. By forging law enforcement and community partnerships,
I developed ComALERT. The program model combines substance abuse treatment
and transitional employment for the initial months of a client’s
release from prison. Referred by their parole officers, clients receive
cash stipends for manual labor jobs; are enrolled into Medicaid; receive
weekly treatment; and are assigned vocational counselors who help them
identify permanent work. ComALERT outcomes include decreased re-arrests
and increased treatment success, work histories, referral networks, and
skill development. I like my work.
For more information, call (718) 250–5557.