ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF SUPPORT PROGRAMS ON ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL OUTCOMES FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED STUDENTS

The reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals into the labor market and broader society poses economic challenges. Inefficiencies in support mechanisms contribute to sustaining high recidivism rates, highlighting the need for more effective interventions. Project Rebound, a program within the California State University (CSU) system, represents a model for addressing these barriers through a community-based approach to support. Education is a mechanism for economic mobility, yet systemic barriers often restrict access for formerly incarcerated individuals, leading to lower employment rates and lost productivity. This thesis examines how specific practices within Project Rebound, such as peer mentoring and community events, enhance human capital development and facilitate labor market reintegration. This study employs a framework to measure participation in peer support and community-building practices, acknowledging the ethical constraints of using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for service allocation. Instead, the analysis focuses on indirect measures of program effectiveness by assessing the role of social capital and network effects created through community engagement. The emphasis on community-building aligns with CSUF Project Rebound’s philosophy, which attributes much of its success to fostering a sense of belonging. This approach sets the groundwork for potential future studies that could correlate engagement levels with labor market outcomes and long-term economic stability. This research contributes to the literature on human capital development and economic reintegration by emphasizing the economic benefits of social capital and community-building within support programs. While direct labor market analysis is beyond this study, the framework supports future evaluations linking community engagement to employment and earnings.