Press Release: 11/2/2026

5th Annual Massachusetts Emerging Adult Summit Highlights Five Years of Collaboration to Support Justice-Involved Young Adults

NORWOOD — The 5th Annual Massachusetts Emerging Adult Summit brought together leaders from public safety, corrections, education, housing, workforce development, and community organizations, alongside researchers, advocates, and individuals with lived experience, to strengthen partnerships and advance innovative approaches to rehabilitation, reentry, and youth justice. 

Hosted by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) in partnership with the Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC), Roca, UTEC, and ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School, the summit marked five years of collaboration to expand opportunities and improve outcomes for justice-involved emerging adults across the Commonwealth. 

Held in Norwood, this year's summit focused on strengthening partnerships across disciplines, sharing promising practices, and advancing developmentally appropriate strategies that support young adults as they navigate the justice system and transition back into their communities. 

“Strong public safety outcomes depend on pairing accountability with meaningful opportunities for rehabilitation and successful reentry,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Kwon. “Under the Healey-Driscoll Administration, we are proud to invest in innovative programs that help justice-involved young adults build productive futures, reduce recidivism, and strengthen the safety and well-being of communities across Massachusetts.” 

The summit featured discussions on shared public safety priorities, regional partnerships, and innovative approaches to supporting emerging adults. Participants explored the role of higher education, family engagement, restorative justice, housing stability, and behavioral health services in strengthening rehabilitation and successful reentry. 

The program also elevated the voices of individuals with lived experience, including incarcerated and formerly incarcerated college students, highlighting how access to education, mentorship, and supportive relationships can create pathways to personal growth and lasting opportunity. 

Throughout the day, leaders and practitioners shared strategies for addressing barriers facing justice-involved young adults, strengthening coordination across agencies, and balancing accountability with developmentally appropriate support. Discussions also examined emerging challenges, including substance use, human trafficking, and the importance of individualized approaches to community supervision. 

“We are proud of the dedicated public safety professionals and community partners working to expand opportunities and build brighter futures for justice-involved young adults,” said Undersecretary of Criminal Justice Andrew Peck. “As we celebrate five years of this summit, we recognize the progress made possible through these partnerships and our shared commitment to building safer, stronger communities.” 

The summit builds on the Healey-Driscoll Administration's ongoing efforts to strengthen public safety through prevention, rehabilitation, and coordinated reentry services. These efforts include investments in community-based programming, specialized correctional initiatives, professional training, and partnerships designed to help justice-involved young adults build stable, productive futures. 

Recent and ongoing initiatives include: 

Investing in Emerging Adults: Through the Office of Grants and Research, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded nearly $25 million since 2023 to nonprofits providing education, employment, housing, mentorship, and reentry services for justice-involved young adults. In 2025, funded programs received 621 referrals and enrolled 443 participants. 

Expanding Training and Mentorship: EOPSS's Emerging Adult Leadership Academy has trained 72 law enforcement professionals and community partners, including its first cohort dedicated to parole officers in 2026. The Credible Messengers program has supported 1,067 individuals and hosted its first Statewide Reentry Community Fair, bringing together 236 attendees and 46 community partners. 

Removing Barriers to Reintegration: EOPSS is working to expand access to long-term housing and supportive services through its Stable Start Housing Initiative and helping policymakers better understand barriers to successful reintegration through hands-on reentry simulations. 

Preparing for Successful Reentry: The Department of Correction's BRAVE Unit has supported over 100 emerging adult fathers through parenting education and mentorship, while its PEACE Unit has served 34 emerging adult women through trauma-informed programming focused on life skills and successful reentry. 

Improving Community Supervision: The Parole Board is advancing individualized, behavioral health-informed supervision through its Coach Referee Model for Change, which entered its second phase in September 2026, and a partnership with UMass Lowell to evaluate parole conditions. Through its Community Pathways Initiative, the Board delivered seven staff trainings, three regional roundtables, and 29 consultation office hours in FY2026. 

As the Emerging Adult Summit marks its fifth year, the Commonwealth continues to build on established partnerships and expand innovative approaches that connect justice-involved young adults with the resources, relationships, and opportunities needed for successful reentry. 

The annual gathering reinforces Massachusetts' commitment to a collaborative approach to public safety that pairs accountability with rehabilitation, strengthens community connections, and creates pathways to lasting opportunity.

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