The Massachusetts Department of Correction and Concord Prison Outreach have partnered to develop the “WELCOMEBACKpack” program to address some of the wide disparities in resources available to people released from prison.

Participation in the arts can increase feelings of self-worth, reduce stress, and be a positive and safe outlet for emotion for all people. For people in prison, these benefits are accompanied by the possibility of reconnecting to interests held in better times and developing interests that bring meaning to daily life.

Education has the highest correlating factors in preventing recidivism and holds the potential for a profound effect on an individual’s future prospects and general well-being.

The number of children with an incarcerated parent is on the rise. Maintaining parent-child connections is linked to positive outcomes for children, improves the quality of life for the parent in prison, and reduces stress for the co-parent. CPO volunteers can contribute to programming aimed at supporting families.

Emotional growth is an essential pillar of CPO’s mission of Education, Connection, and Transformation. It is essential to the life trajectories of the people in prison, and to society as a whole, to develop strategies for managing emotions and behavior ...

Vocational courses are very popular, particularly with those who have their release dates in view. CPO programming teaches skills necessary to seek employment, and to match the needs of potential employers, upon release from prison.

For decades, Concord Prison Outreach has sponsored the Holiday Gift Bag Project, providing a bag of simple, useful gifts to each incarcerated man in Concord’s two state prisons. Each bag contains toiletries, writing materials, a pocket calendar, and a greeting card.