The Connection Program Copa
Everyone deserves a second chance. The Connection’s community justice services assist you or your loved one with the education, skills and resources needed to return to the community after prison as a productive and valued citizen. Our positive support, state-of-the-art rehabilitation and supervisory services and innovative housing options have proven to be what many people need to rewrite their stories. Starting with our original program, Connection House, one of the first halfway houses in the state, to a unique scattered site apartment program for people leaving prison, The Connection works closely with our funders and service partners to successfully reduce criminal recidivism. Below is a listing of some of our Community Justice programs, click on each to read more. Center for the Treatment of Problem Sexual Behavior (CTPSB) The Center for the Treatment of Problem Sexual Behavior serves to prevent future sexual abuse through state-of-the-art assessment, treatment and training.
CTPSB is committed to the enhancement of the community via the reduction of sexual violence. We accomplish this by working in a collaborative effort with the criminal justice and victim advocacy systems, utilizing research valid methodologies in the treatment and management of sexual offenders. The Center is comprised of Adult Services, Juvenile Services, Developmental Disabilities Program, and The January Center, the state’s first residential treatment center for problem sexual behavior. Both Juvenile Services and the Developmental Disabilities program provide assessment and treatment for victims of sexual violence as well as sexual offenders. The Center provides treatment in coordination with Departments of Correction and Probation at both state and federal level and the Department of Mental Health Services. The main office is located in Middletown. Specialized evaluation and treatment services are provided statewide in Middletown, New Haven, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Danbury, Waterbury, New Britain, Torrington, Bristol, Hartford, Manchester, Norwich, Montville and New London.
Through subcontractors, services are provided in Willimantic, Stratford, Danielson, and Shelton. For more information about The Center for the Treatment of Problem Sexual Behavior, please contact David Zemke, Program Director, at (860) 343-5515. Cochegan House Cochegan House is a transitional halfway house for men rejoining society after being discharged from the correctional system.
Ever since they rebranded their frequent flier program (FFP), I became fascinated with Copa Airlines and wanted to give them a try. With their low prices and one stop. The Junior League of Las Vegas didn’t set out to create a series of events about the Copa Room at the Sands, but when one developed, the nonprofit didn’t back down.
The program assists individuals by instilling self-worth, responsibility and a desire to develop positive behavioral patterns in order to reestablish themselves within their families and their communities. Located in Montville, Cochegan House provides up to 16 clients with helpful guidance on employment and educational opportunities. The program focuses on enhancing life skills and responsibility to help clients regain their independence in the community. Community Reporting Engagement Support and Training (CREST) Center The CREST Center is a community-based day reporting program that serves adults involved in the Criminal Justice System who exhibit moderate impairment from a psychiatric condition, mental illness, or co-occurring disorder. Clients are referred to the New Haven based program by criminal justice agents as an alternative to incarceration. The CREST Center provides consistent monitoring, support, and case management to address the behavioral health needs of individuals in order to improve community safety.
The program works closely with the court/probation and parole agencies in an effort to provide a comprehensive and coordinated supervision plan to offer clients the support needed to make informed decisions about their treatment and recovery and to empower them to behave as law abiding citizens. The Eddy Center The Eddy Center, located in Middletown, is a residential treatment center providing intensive supervision, counseling and monitoring for up to 28 individuals over the age of 18 who are offered an alternative to incarceration.
The program addresses individual client needs to help ease their transition back into the community and reduce the likelihood of criminal recidivism. The Eddy Building, which houses Eddy Shelter, Eddy Center and Logano Place, was built in 1955 as a residence for 96 Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) employees. It was named Eddy Home in honor of Pearl and Otis Eddy, longtime and dedicated CVH employees. They were members of a family with a long and close relationship with the hospital, as both employees and advocates. Re-Entry Assisted Community Housing (REACH) The REACH program is a scattered site supportive housing for individuals re-entering the community from the correctional system.
It is designed to address the needs of individuals in the correctional system who are eligible for parole, but unable to locate appropriate housing. The intent of the program is to assist individuals in successfully re-entering the community and provide the supports necessary for independent living. REACH provides scattered site apartments that are subsidized based on the tenant’s income. Participants are provided with intensive case management and have an estimated length of stay of four to six months.
Roger Sherman House Roger Sherman House is a residential work release program for men being discharged from the correctional system. The program helps clients achieve self-esteem with positive results by providing them the resources to obtain employment, healthcare, and engage in continued education. Located in New Haven and named after the first Mayor of New Haven, Founding Father of the United States and U.S.
The Connection Program
Senator from Connecticut, Roger Sherman House provides clients being released from prison with employment opportunities as well as educational opportunities. The 61-bed facility focuses on life skills and helps clients regain their independence in the community with a strong emphasis on responsibility.
All referrals for this program come from the State of Connecticut Department of Correction. SIERRA Center SIERRA Center is comprised of two components: a pre-trial program and a post incarceration program with a focus on mental illness, for men involved with the criminal justice system. The program offers clients a positive sense of direction and empowers them to be law-abiding citizens and productive members of society. SIERRA programs are designed to address the characteristics of offenders that can be changed and are associated with the individual’s criminal activities. Located in New Haven, SIERRA Center provides clients being released from incarceration or those awaiting trial employment and educational opportunities. Of the 30 beds in the post incarceration facility, eight are set aside for offenders with behavioral health issues.
The pre-trial program is comprised of 16 beds for individuals with behavioral health needs. Clients in both program components are diagnosed with mental illness–a majority also have a co-occurring substance use diagnosis. By addressing each client’s needs, the program is able to develop a comprehensive plan for each client that is able to address their risk of re-offense. Referrals for the Post-SIERRA program come from the State of Connecticut Department of Correction/Parole. Referrals for the Pre-SIERRA program come from the Court Support Services Division specialized mental health units within Jail Re-Interview and Probation.
Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. And Frank Sinatra at the Copa Room in an undated picture. (Las Vegas News Bureau) The Junior League of Las Vegas didn’t set out to create a series of events about the Copa Room at the Sands, but when one developed, the nonprofit didn’t back down. Instead, it created a series of events. One event was initially planned to highlight the entertainment at the Copa Room, where Antonio Morelli performed from 1954-72. The league is headquartered in the Morelli House, which was in the Desert Inn Country Club Estates until it was moved to its current location at 861 Bridger Ave. Deedee Nave, chairwoman of the Morelli public program committee said her original idea was to find a chautauquan who did Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin or other mid-century performers who performed at the Copa Room.
Chautauquans provided educational entertainment in the early 20th century. “I was looking for someone to deliver the story of a performer’s life and maybe sing a few songs,” Nave said. As she networked, seeking funding and local presenters and performers to work with, the project snowballed. Faced with a plethora of talent, historians and options, she decided she didn’t have enough event time for everything she had available. The solution was to add more events, and the Sands Copa Connection Program Series was born. The event kicked off April 5 with Meet the Copa Girls at the Morelli House, highlighting the showgirls who set the stage for lavish productions in Las Vegas.
Several of the performers were on hand to answer visitors’ questions. On May 9, LVA Unplugged: Alive from the Copa took place at the Lowden Theater for the Performing Arts at Las Vegas Academy, 315 S. The program opened with “The Rat Pack and the Sands” a lecture by historian Michael Green, followed by an LVA Jazz Orchestra concert directed by Patrick Bowen and featuring guest vocalist Marlena Shaw. The evening wrapped up with a reception and guided tour of the Morelli House. The original event Nave envisioned, An Evening at the Copa: A Century of Sinatra, is scheduled at 7:30 p.m.
20 at the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St., but the event is sold out. Author and Sinatra historian Tom Santoprieto plans to discuss the entertainer’s life, music and legacy while Tony DeSare plays piano and sings some of Sinatra’s signature songs. “Usually when we do this show, it’s just me and Tony,” said Santoprieto. “Because it’s Las Vegas, we want to make it special.
We’ve added some different material, and Tony is bringing out a couple of great musicians he knows in Las Vegas, so we’ll have a trio.” New Yorker Santoprieto hadn’t been to Las Vegas in decades before booking this performance, but he came to town for a day to promote the show and was amazed at how much had changed. “The constant building, the constant, ‘what’s next?’ was one of the things Sinatra loved about Las Vegas,” Santoprieto said. “Sinatra is indelibly linked to Las Vegas.
I’ll tell stories about Frank at the Sands and filming ‘Ocean’s 11.’ Doing this show is one of my favorite things to do. I would talk about Frank in a phone booth, but fortunately, I won’t have to.
We’ll have 400 people there. I may have to come back and do it again sometime soon.” The event is set to finish with a nightcap at the Morelli House. The final event is The Sands: A Place in the Sun, scheduled at 1 p.m. 25 at the Nevada State Museum at the Springs Preserve, 333 S.
Valley View Blvd. Four noted local historians, Larry Gragg, Eugene Moehring, Green and Su Kim Chung, are set to speak of the importance of the Copa Room and the Sands in Las Vegas history. They will also be signing copies of their books, which are set to be available for purchase.
“It’s the Sands that really had a lot to do with Las Vegas being known as the entertainment capital of the world,” Nave said. “The event will also be the opening of the special exhibit on the Copa Room and the Sands that the museum is putting together.” Plans for the exhibit reception include free food and a performance by the Thurston Howlies. The October event is free, but reservations are required by calling 702-822-8735.
Contact East Valley View reporter F. Andrew Taylor at ataylor@viewnews.com or 702-380-4532.