Program Impacts

An evaluation of the People Empowering People (PEP) program was conducted by the UConn School of Family Studies between October 2002 and April 2004. Surveys were administered to participants and facilitators at three different points - prior to starting the program, at the end of the 10-week structured workshop sessions, and three months later after the participants had completed a community-related project.

A total of 122 individuals from various locations throughout Connecticut participated. They ranged in age from 19 to 67 years old with an average age of 35. Seventy-three percent of the participants completed the program while incarcerated while 27% attended PEP programs in their communities. The majority of participants (68%) were male. Twenty percent identified themselves as white, 33% black or African American, and 28% identified as Hispanic. Less than 1% listed themselves as Asian and the rest indicated "other" on the survey. Twenty-five percent stated that they were married while others indicated they were single (37%), divorced (12%), unmarried and cohabiting (9%) or separated (4%). Most reported having children.

The study showed that two of the three areas emphasize in the PEP program (personal strengths, and parent/family relationships) were found to be significantly improved after the program. Th third area targeted by PEP, community involvement and empowerment, was not significantly changed due to the high number of incarcerated persons completing the surveys.

To receive a copy of the evaluation report, contact Cheryl Czuba at cheryl.czuba@uconn.edu.

Based on the research, the evaluation instruments have been modified and will be included in the PEP manual.

Comments from participants:
• "I feel I can conquer anything. ..It wasn’t long ago when I had no goals and no ambition and now I’m so inspired. PEP has given me that push or that motivation."(inmate)
• "I’ve learned to talk more effectively using "I feel" and "I think", etc. I’ve been able to open up more than I expected." (inmate)
• "I now want to be a better mother and talk instead of yell and instill values in my son." (teen)
• "It’s improved my parenting skills, problem solving skills. Since then I’ve moved out on my own and got a car."
• "I’m a good Mom. I’m a good listener. I give good advice and I’m able to recognize other people’s needs."
• "PEP helped me to give to others and back to our community in some new and unique ways, which truly was a blessing. I was glad to be a participant and in PEP that means being active."

Comments from facilitators:
• "Working with PEP and UCONN CES has given me the opportunity to see the life behind the statistics and research I was immersed in while a graduate student at UCONN.I have been fortunate to work with intelligent women who have conquered fear and hopelessness to make changes in their lives."
• " I got to make a difference in people’s lives. I gave them tools to make a difference in their lives and in their families."
• "I find it very rewarding to watch the women in prison who are enhancing their skills to give back to the community."

Comments from collaborators about PEP training:
• "There was a good balance between interactive activities and processing activities."
• "PEP is a pretty dynamic program. The Extension Educator is a good facilitator. I appreciate her cultural sensitivity and her understanding of minority groups and how they may parent differently and have different family values."