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The Roca Impact Institute

THINK DIFFERENT. DO DIFFERENT.

The Roca Impact Institute is Roca’s intensive coaching arm designed to equip institutions and individuals at the center of urban violence with tools and strategies to address trauma, reduce violence and improve outcomes for young people.

The Roca Impact Institute is Roca’s intensive coaching arm designed to equip institutions and individuals at the center of urban violence with tools and strategies to address trauma, reduce violence and improve outcomes for young people.

OUR WORK

Across the country, there are courageous individuals and agencies working day in and day out to reduce violence by helping the young adults at the center of it turn their lives around.

A key piece of the puzzle is missing in existing strategies: how we as practitioners can use brain science to help young people at the center of violence understand why they do what they do and how they can change behaviors over time.

Roca’s time-tested intervention model of 35 years focuses on young men and women at the center of urban violence to reduce the recurrence of violent behavior and recidivism while increasing young people’s readiness for and success in employment opportunities (Abt Associates, 2021). Roca’s Rewire CBT was developed in partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital as a simple, skill-based approach to Cognitive Behavioral Theory that frontline staff can implement as a core behavior change intervention with the highest-risk young people.

Across the country, there are courageous individuals and agencies working day in and day out to reduce violence by helping the young adults at the center of it turn their lives around.

A key piece of the puzzle is missing in existing strategies: how we as practitioners can use brain science to help young people at the center of violence understand why they do what they do and how they can change behaviors over time.

Roca’s time-tested intervention model of 35 years focuses on young men and women at the center of urban violence to reduce the recurrence of violent behavior and recidivism while increasing young people’s readiness for and success in employment opportunities (Abt Associates, 2021). Roca’s Rewire CBT was developed in partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital as a simple, skill-based approach to Cognitive Behavioral Theory that frontline staff can implement as a core behavior change intervention with the highest-risk young people.

Founded In Memory of

James  E.  Mahoney

James (Jim) E. Mahoney, former Global Corporate Strategy and Public Policy Executive, was a trusted advisor, colleague, and friend at Bank of America for 25 years. Jim worked passionately to help advance second chances for the formerly incarcerated and believed strongly in Roca’s mission to disrupt incarceration, poverty and racism. In memory of Jim, Bank of America made a significant contribution to help launch the Roca Impact Institute.

Learn more about Jim’s life.

James (Jim) E. Mahoney, former Global Corporate Strategy and Public Policy Executive, was a trusted advisor, colleague, and friend at Bank of America for 25 years. Jim worked passionately to help advance second chances for the formerly incarcerated and believed strongly in Roca’s mission to disrupt incarceration, poverty and racism. In memory of Jim, Bank of America made a significant contribution to help launch the Roca Impact Institute.

Learn more about Jim’s life.

Community Violence Intervention

Originally designed to help young adults at risk of violence learn emotional regulation and behavior change skills, Roca’s Rewire CBT is also a resource for violence intervention specialists to learn about and heal from the impacts of trauma in their own lives while teaching the skills to others. Offerings include Rewire CBT training and coaching for teams of frontline staff and supervisors, and implementation planning for integrating Rewire CBT within existing Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programming.
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Juvenile & Young Adult Justice

A direct investment in skill building for staff on the front lines of justice reform, Roca’s Rewire CBT training and coaching equip direct care staff to teach youth the skills for emotional regulation and healthier decision-making. The Roca Impact Institute also offers implementation coaching to help juvenile and young adult justice agencies integrate and sustain Rewire CBT within existing agency-wide reform initiatives.
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Law Enforcement

Rewire4 is an adapted Rewire CBT curriculum co-designed with law enforcement and tailored to the practices of policing and corrections. Through a combination of in-person training and texting, Rewire4 can teach law enforcement the theory and skills to help them stay focused, read themselves, examine their thinking, and act on what’s important to them. Rewire4 is an approved training by the U.S. Department of Justice and both the Massachusetts and Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions.
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Site Visits, Webinars, Conferences

The Roca Impact Institute has a menu of field-building offerings, including site visits to Roca’s nationally recognized program sites in Massachusetts and Maryland, webinars, workshops, and presentations.
Contact Us

Community Violence Intervention

Originally designed to help young adults at risk of violence learn emotional regulation and behavior change skills, Roca’s Rewire CBT is also a resource for violence intervention specialists to learn about and heal from the impacts of trauma in their own lives while teaching the skills to others. Offerings include Rewire CBT training and coaching for teams of frontline staff and supervisors, and implementation planning for integrating Rewire CBT within existing Community Violence Intervention programming.

Contact Us

Juvenile & Young Adult Justice

A direct investment in skill building for staff on the front lines of justice reform, Roca’s Rewire CBT training and coaching equip direct care staff to teach youth the skills for emotional regulation and healthier decision-making. The Roca Impact Institute also offers implementation coaching to help juvenile and young adult justice agencies integrate and sustain Rewire CBT within existing agency-wide reform initiatives.

Contact Us

Law Enforcement

Rewire4 is an adapted Rewire CBT curriculum co-designed with law enforcement and tailored to the practices of policing and corrections. Through a combination of in-person training and texting, Rewire4 can teach law enforcement the theory and skills to help them stay focused, read themselves, examine their thinking, and act on what’s important to them. Rewire4 is an approved training by the U.S. Department of Justice and both the Massachusetts and Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions.

Contact Us

Site Visits, Webinars, Conferences

The Roca Impact Institute has a menu of field-building offerings, including site visits to Roca’s nationally recognized program sites in Massachusetts and Maryland, webinars, workshops, and presentations.

Contact Us

SAMPLE CLIENTS

EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY
PEACE FOR DC
CITY OF OAKLAND, CA
DALIO PHILANTHROPIES
MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES
NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION
SAN FRANSISCO JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT
RISING GROUND
BALTIMORE, MD POLICE DEPATMENT
BOSTON, MA POLICE DEPARTMENT
MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MA HOUSE OF CORRECTIONS

CLIENT FEEDBACK and results

94% of Rewire CBT participants would recommend the course to a colleague.
“This is the first training that I can recall where case managers have been given real skills to utilize every day in work and in our personal lives.”
—Case Manager, Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
“I would recommend this class because not only does it help to support my participants with thinking outside the box and changing their patterns…it has also taught me how to use the skills when working on myself and changing my own thought process and patterns.”
—Staff Member, Oakland, CA Department of Violence Prevention
“On the job, it helps me not to prejudge, to slow things down—don’t react prematurely. At home, I don’t fly off the handle; I am aware of my ‘small brain thinking’.”
—Police Officer, Chelsea, MA Police Department
“It’s given me a sense of hope and has substantially decreased my burnout.”
—Restorative Justice Facilitator, Washington, DC Office of the Attorney General
“For the first time ever, I am feeling a real culture change happening in the Baltimore DJS operation. Staff are coming to court and talking differently about young people, and even the staff I am most challenged with are exhibiting real change.”
—Baltimore City Juvenile Public Defender
“Rewire does not just provide participants with skills that they can convey to young people involved in the criminal justice system, it requires participants in the training—police officers, parole, probation and juvenile services agents, corrections professionals—to change themselves. Rewire forces us to take pause and get out of bottom brain ourselves, before we guide someone else out of it.”
—Police Officer, Baltimore, MD Police Department
93% of Rewire CBT participants "strongly agree" or "agree" that the course gave them a better understanding of how young people think, feel and/or act.
“The [Rewire] CBT training was very pivotal in my personal life. Giving me the tools to manage stressful emotions during a difficult time... Violence interruption requires self-care and healing consistently or we will burn out.”
—Peace for DC Violence Interrupter, Washington, DC
“I don’t get angry as quickly. I use this both as a shift commander and as father of three daughters.”
—Police Officer, Chelsea, MA Police Department
“This training is created by and for the community it impacts. The CBT practice is revamped to accommodate to our specific population and people we serve.”
—Staff Member, Oakland, CA Department of Violence Prevention
“The beauty of [Rewire CBT] is that it’s not complicated and allows you to see overt ways to help.”
—Case Manager, Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
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94% of Rewire CBT participants would recommend the course to a colleague.
“This is the first training that I can recall where case managers have been given real skills to utilize every day in work and in our personal lives.”
—Case Manager, Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
“I would recommend this class because not only does it help to support my participants with thinking outside the box and changing their patterns…it has also taught me how to use the skills when working on myself and changing my own thought process and patterns.”
—Staff Member, Oakland, CA Department of Violence Prevention
“On the job, it helps me not to prejudge, to slow things down—don’t react prematurely. At home, I don’t fly off the handle; I am aware of my ‘small brain thinking’.”
—Police Officer, Chelsea, MA Police Department
“It’s given me a sense of hope and has substantially decreased my burnout.”
—Restorative Justice Facilitator, Washington, DC Office of the Attorney General
“For the first time ever, I am feeling a real culture change happening in the Baltimore DJS operation. Staff are coming to court and talking differently about young people, and even the staff I am most challenged with are exhibiting real change.”
—Baltimore City Juvenile Public Defender
“Rewire does not just provide participants with skills that they can convey to young people involved in the criminal justice system, it requires participants in the training—police officers, parole, probation and juvenile services agents, corrections professionals—to change themselves. Rewire forces us to take pause and get out of bottom brain ourselves, before we guide someone else out of it.”
—Police Officer, Baltimore, MD Police Department
93% of Rewire CBT participants "strongly agree" or "agree" that the course gave them a better understanding of how young people think, feel and/or act.
“The [Rewire] CBT training was very pivotal in my personal life. Giving me the tools to manage stressful emotions during a difficult time... Violence interruption requires self-care and healing consistently or we will burn out.”
—Peace for DC Violence Interrupter, Washington, DC
“I don’t get angry as quickly. I use this both as a shift commander and as father of three daughters.”
—Police Officer, Chelsea, MA Police Department
“This training is created by and for the community it impacts. The CBT practice is revamped to accommodate to our specific population and people we serve.”
—Staff Member, Oakland, CA Department of Violence Prevention
“The beauty of [Rewire CBT] is that it’s not complicated and allows you to see overt ways to help.”
—Case Manager, Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
Previous slide
Next slide
94% of Rewire CBT participants would recommend the course to a colleague.
“This is the first training that I can recall where case managers have been given real skills to utilize every day in work and in our personal lives.”
—Case Manager, Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
“I would recommend this class because not only does it help to support my participants with thinking outside the box and changing their patterns…it has also taught me how to use the skills when working on myself and changing my own thought process and patterns.”
—Staff Member, Oakland, CA Department of Violence Prevention
“On the job, it helps me not to prejudge, to slow things down—don’t react prematurely. At home, I don’t fly off the handle; I am aware of my ‘small brain thinking’.”
—Police Officer, Chelsea, MA Police Department
“It’s given me a sense of hope and has substantially decreased my burnout.”
—Restorative Justice Facilitator, Washington, DC Office of the Attorney General
“For the first time ever, I am feeling a real culture change happening in the Baltimore DJS operation. Staff are coming to court and talking differently about young people, and even the staff I am most challenged with are exhibiting real change.”
—Baltimore City Juvenile Public Defender
“Rewire does not just provide participants with skills that they can convey to young people involved in the criminal justice system, it requires participants in the training...to change themselves. Rewire forces us to take pause and get out of bottom brain ourselves, before we guide someone else out of it.”
—Police Officer, Baltimore, MD Police Department
93% of Rewire CBT participants "strongly agree" or "agree" that the course gave them a better understanding of how young people think, feel and/or act.
“The [Rewire] CBT training was very pivotal in my personal life. Giving me the tools to manage stressful emotions during a difficult time... Violence interruption requires self-care and healing consistently or we will burn out.”
—Peace for DC Violence Interrupter, Washington, DC
“I don’t get angry as quickly. I use this both as a shift commander and as father of three daughters.”
—Police Officer, Chelsea, MA Police Department
“This training is created by and for the community it impacts. The CBT practice is revamped to accommodate to our specific population and people we serve.”
—Staff Member, Oakland, CA Department of Violence Prevention
“The beauty of [Rewire CBT] is that it’s not complicated and allows you to see overt ways to help.”
—Case Manager, Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
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