Post Release Prison Reentry Services

1. Post Release Prison Reentry Services Kim L Hunter Hyacinth AIDS Foundation United Stated

2. International Data • The United States ranks highest in documented incarceration rates in the world at 754 per 100,000 (as of 2009). • 1 out of every 100 person is incarcerated in the United States. • The United States has the highest rates of female incarcerations. www.whorunsgov.com/institutions/justice/ (2008)

3. National DataIncarceration Rates by States in the US The top five states; per 100,000 population • Louisiana=853 • Mississippi=735 • Oklahoma=661 • Texas=639 • Alabama=634 39. New Jersey=298 41. Washington, DC=272 www.whorunsgov.com/institutions/justice/ (2008)

4. Some International Statistical Data on Incarcerated Women U.S. Incarcerates more Women than any other Country • 123 per 100,000 U.S. (approx 200,000) • 80 per 100,000 Thailand • 73 per 100,000 Russia • 17 per 100,000 England & Wales • 3 per 100,000 India (Hartney, 2006)

5. Nationally 23% increase since 2000 (FBI, 2008) In 2009, over 2.25 million women were arrested in the US (FBI, 2010)

6. Hyacinth AIDS Foundation For more than 15 years, Hyacinth AIDS Foundation has worked diligently to improve the lives of ex-offenders as they transition back into the community. The likelihood of success is enhanced when a multi faceted team approach is utilized.

7. Our Correctional Services • 1996 began discharge planning services at NJ’s state prison for women (with private funding ) • 1999 established Hotline as a toll free number inside all NJ state correctional facilities • 2000 funded by NJ Department of Health through the CDC demonstration project---providing discharge planning, health education, peer education, counseling and testing and community follow-up from 3 state prisons

8. Correctional Services cont: • 2001-current, Incarcerated Discharge Planning funded by Newark Ryan White Program to provide discharge planning and community follow-up to HIV positive offenders returning the Newark EMA. • 2007-2009 Expansion of discharge planning program for women funded by the Office of Women’s Health to address substance abuse and mental health (3 year grant).

9. Project Connect Model“Helping Our Women Recover” • Pre-Discharge Planning- 6 months prior to release -Weekly sessions at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women -Preparation for release at initial session (Identifying needs and goals/steps to meeting needs and goals) • Toll free hotline 800-433-0254 999-999-9999 • Discharge Planning-Peer Based Model Peer Interactions-Providing a peer based component that focuses on support from previously incarcerated women. Pre-introduction to assigned peer support

10. Female Reentry Model Post Release Assessments /Case Management: Modules • Level Service Inventory- Revised (LSI-TR) was used as a predictor to identify risks of recidivism but perhaps more importantly it also provides information pertaining to offender needs. • Re-assessment every six months allows for an examination of whether the offender’s need level was improved by the intervening Programming • Pre-Post assessments/ screenings were completed http://www.iccaweb.org/assessmenttools.htm

11. The Female Version of Addiction Severity Index, ASI was used as a general intake screening tool. It effectively assesses the client’s status in several areas, and the composite score measures how a client’s need for treatment changes over time http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK83254/ Female Reentry Model cont:

12. Female Reentry Model cont: CES- Depression Scale • The CES-D scale is a short self-report scale designed to measure depressive symptoms in the general population. The items of the scale are symptoms associated with depression which have been used in previously validated longer scales. • With this tool we identified any current symptoms of depression http://www.mytherapysession.com/PDFs/CES-DDepressionScale.pdf

13. Post Release-Implementing a Gender Responsive Curriculum • Enrollment into (Eight week Curriculum) • Self- Self Awareness-Defining Self-Developing a Sense of Self (weekly homework assignments-journaling), (Weekly reflections- meditation) info@stephaniecovington.com

14. Post Release-Implementing a Gender Responsive Curriculum cont: • Relationships-Understanding Relationships-Building Healthy Relationships and support systems- Mothers-Motherhood-Mother Myths. • Sexuality-Sexual Health-Female Anatomy-Female Addiction Recovery and Spirituality • Ongoing Weekly Case Management • Graduation Ceremony-Certificate of Completion • Ongoing follow-up info@stephaniecovington.com

15. Challenges Incarcerated women face a number of challenges upon returning to their communities: • Lack of Housing • Trauma • Linkage to Healthcare • Substance Use • Mental Illness • Family Reunification • Lack of Health Education • Lack of Employment • Stigma • Lack of Self-esteem

16. Lessons Learned ? • Peer-based services to assist with transition and navigation of services is effective. • Multiple (comprehensive) services are needed to address the clients’ needs • Gender specific interventions for female clients is needed • Establishing trust/relationships prior to release from facility is important • Client’s confidentiality and education around disclosure is vital *When a structured model is implemented Discharge Planning Works!*

17. Bridging the Gaps in Reentry Services Collaborations within the prison systems • Administration • Prison Guards • Social Worker Community Mapping • Finding out what services are available to women in your community to meet their needs. Enhancing/Developing Gender Responsive Partnerships • Parenting skills • Youth education • Family counseling • Life skills • Relationship skills • Women/ Family health services

18. Summation We continue to address ongoing challenges such as; • Adherence to medical treatment • Stable housing • Access to mental health treatment • Substance use/ relapse • Issues/ challenges centered around family • trauma

19. Finishing What We Started

20. Contact info: Kim L. Hunter Hyacinth AIDS Foundation 408 Bloomfield Avenue 2d floor Newark, NJ (973) 565-0300 ext. 104 khunter@hyacinth.org