Unlocking The Gates Peer Health Mentor Program

AUTHORS: Mo Korchinski, Ruth Elwood Martin, Pamela Young, Patti Janssen, Marla Buchanan, Jane Buxton, Lara-Lisa Condello, Lynn Fels, Carl Leggo and Vivian Ramsden

Incarcerated individuals: high prevalence of illness & socio-economic health determinants social exclusion following prison release. Incarcerated women ( ): prison participatory health research (PHR) 9 health goals for (re)integration into society. Women in2 Healing (Wi2H): a community-based network promotes participatory approaches to improving health for women with incarceration experience

Women following their release from provincial correctional centres Multi-method evaluation 1.Intake and demographic survey 2.3-day evaluation survey 3.recidivism rates for clients. UBC Behavioral Research Ethics Board In this presentation, we describe the program & present evaluation findings. Wi2H Peer Health Mentorship Program

Resource Lead Prince George Robyn Ocean 2 Mentors Resource Lead Kelowna Micki Smith 3 Mentors Resource Lead Fraser Valley Pam Young 3 Mentors Resource Lead Vancouver Area Pam Young 5 Mentors Area’s Available for Peer Mentoring Peer Mentoring to Vancouver Island

Wi2H Peer Health Mentorship Program Mentors: Mentors must be 2-years crime free & 2-years substance free All mentors do a 1-day training We developed a Peer Mentor training manual Incarcerated women: Self-refer, or are referred by collaborating organization Mentors meet women the day that they are released Complete a consent form and an intake form Identify 3 health/social goals to assist with release transition (e.g. finding housing, FP, clothing, and food)

Women do a telephone interview prior to leaving prison - they identify community support that they want the peer mentor to help them to connect with.

Demographics 71 incarcerated women called and filled in a telephone referral form. 54 women followed through with the program after their release from prison

Ethnicity

Age

Intended Location

What is challenging about getting out? (n=54)

What supports do you need (on intake form, at the time of release from prison)? (n=54 )

What are you looking forward to when you get out of prison? “Trying to find stability in the community and a safe place to live and access to a methadone clinic” “Staying clean, Staying away from people I should stay away from, do some soul searching on my past upbringing, reuniting with my partner and mother and keep a positive outlook on a daily basis” What is challenging about getting out of prison? “Having to find a place to live is very stressful almost all shelters are full and can only get emergency shelter.” “Making sure I get out of the familiar and back to without incident or sidetrack and follow through with goals I’ve set for myself.Amen ”

RESOURCES ACCESSED (n=54)

Did you access a family doctor during the first 72 hours of release? 50% accessed a doctor If no, did you receive information from your peer mentor with respect to how to access a family doctor? 100% said yes Did you connect with any community resources within the first 72 hours of release?100% connected Did your peer mentor assist you in the goals that you had identified for yourself prior to your release? 100% said yes Three Day Evaluation

What community resources did you connect with specifically? Urban outreachRavens moon job place Probation E Fry Bail supervisor DTECC Methadone clinic Doctor Women's center Welfare Office Social worker Probation office Clothing bank Women's shelter

“Helped me to stay away from places I used to hang out in my addiction. Writing down your goal to succeed for the day (baby steps)” “Relieved of stress” “Relieved I had someone to help me make my way home” “I am happy with everything and very grateful for this program. If it wasn’t for your program I would have given up on trying” “My Mentor is a super role model and we are lucky to have her” “Peer Mentor has been extremely supportive& helpful in every aspect of my release strategy. I was overwhelmed with everything I had to do - she calmed me down and gave me confidence” “She kept me on track by calling me the next day” Illuminating Comments

Recidivism Rates Data taken from public database

Thank you for listening! Questions? Unlocking the Gates Women in2 Healing Webpage:womenin2healing.org