Second Round of 2020 PbS Reentry Award Winners

Following the success of our virtual fundraiser “Creating Real Second Chances,” Performance-based Standards (PbS) was pleased to offer a second round of the 2020 PbS Reentry Award to youths in PbS participating facilities. During this unprecedented holiday season, youths headed home for the holiday season were eligible to receive additional support to ease the transition from juvenile justice facilities to their communities.

None of this would be possible without our newly-launched PbS Education and Employment Foundation, our donors, PbS supporters and the facility staff connecting youths to the opportunities. Thanks to their efforts, we were able to award each eligible youth who applied. We awarded a total of $1600—$200 to each youth—to purchase clothing, household items, school supplies and other basic needs to assist with reentry.

The applications were extra special this holiday season, with youths’ heartfelt comments about providing for their families as a part of their own reentry efforts. Congratulations to:

• One youth from the Connecticut Support Services Division, Boys and Girls Village – REGIONS House;
• One youth from the Connecticut Support Services Division, Bridgeport – REGIONS;
• One youth from the Connecticut Support Services Division, Hartford – REGIONS;
• One youth from the Delaware Youth Rehabilitative Services Division, Ferris School;
• Three youths from the Minnesota Department of Corrections, Juvenile Services, Red Wing Juvenile Facility; and
• One youth from Youth Opportunity Investments, Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center in Tennessee.

As a whole, youths at facilities have inspired us with their resilience in the face of a deadly pandemic, economic hardships and racial strife. We feel privileged to recognize their strength and help set them up for success upon reentry.