Turning a New Leaf through Horticulture Fran Lawn – September 18, 2015

By the Numbers…  Approximately 40,000 individuals are released into Philadelphia from federal and state prisons and local jails each year, according to a 2011 Economy League report.*  Approximately 65% return to city prisons within three years.**  In 2010 nearly 6% of the city’s budget was spent on jails. *Economy League of Greater Philadelphia. Economic Benefits of Employing Formerly Incarcerated Individuals in Philadelphia: Executive Summary. Philadelphia, PA, 2011 **Approximate percentage

Challenges  Underserved population  Cycle in and out of prison  Unstructured family/lack of support  Substance abuse  Little or no job history  Literacy issues  Mental health  Diagnosed/Undiagnosed

Can horticulture play a role in job training and community building? “ I came home with more than a great reference, I came home with a job.” D.R.  Wide range of training opportunities within the “green” industry  Certifications, education, etc.  Improved recidivism rate*  Jobs, jobs, jobs  Urban landscape  Stormwater  Access to public gardening programs *Approximate percentages (43% vs 65%)

Skills:  Greenhouse management  Turf management  Gardening  Stormwater management

The Right Combination: Factors for Success  Links to jobs  Support to “show up” for the job  Responsive to the individual  Coordinated case management  Compassionate and individualized engagement  Magnify importance of physical and mental health to job retention  AND…

Partnerships “ I want to give back…” E.D.  Integrated collaboration between a diverse and non-traditional group of partners and stakeholders  Non-profit  For-profit  Government  Medical/Health  Funders

Benefits: Personal “I never thought a tree could change my life, but it did.” Q.D.  Improved self-esteem  Sense of self in the context of family, community, city  Better understanding of ones physicality  Lower incidences of chronic illness*  Increase weight loss*  Improved diet*  Sense of accomplishment  Improved math and reading skills** *Thomas Jefferson University Study **Federation of Neighborhood Centers: Career Support Network

Benefits: Community “After you see what you’ve done, you feel proud.” T.J.  Beautification of public spaces  “Pay it Forward” mentality  Return on Investment  Contributing to “Social Impact”  Act as positive role model  Jobs = economic value

Collective Impact “Working with plants felt different – it was a burden off my shoulder” Q.D.  The approach is to bring a broader set of organizations and individuals from different sectors together to define common goals for transformation. It then provides a framework for aligning efforts and learning together using common measures of success. Reentry to Workforce Case Study: FSG: