Unlocking The GatesPeer 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 (2005-2007):• 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 survey2. 3-day evaluation survey3. 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 LeadPrince George Robyn Ocean2 Mentors

Resource LeadKelownaMicki Smith3 Mentors

Resource LeadFraser Valley Pam Young3 Mentors

Resource LeadVancouver AreaPam Young5 Mentors

Area’s Available for Peer Mentoring

Peer Mentoring to Vancouver Island

Wi2H Peer Health Mentorship ProgramMentors:• 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.

Demographics71 incarcerated women

called and filled in a telephone referral form.

54 women followed through with the program

after their release from prison

Aboriginal Cauucasian Missing0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Ethnicity

Age

2122232526282930313234353637384041424344454950515355640

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Intended Location

Lower Main-land

Okanagan25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

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

Stayin

g clean

breach probati

on

shop lift

ing

Anxiety/

overw

helming

no place to

live

Getting to ap

pointments

being alone

Everyt

hing0

5

10

15

20

25

Housing

ClothingFo

od

Welfare

Probation

Doctor/d

entist

Outreach

AA/NA

A&D counselor

05

10152025303540

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 <xx> without incident or sidetrack and follow through with goals I’ve set for myself .Amen”

Housing

ClothingFo

od

Welfare

Probation

Doctor/d

entist

Outreach

AA/NA

A&D counselor

05

1015202530354045

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 outreach Ravens moon job place Probation E Fry Bail supervisor DTECC Methadone clinic Doctor Women's center Welfare Office Social worker Probation office Clothing bankWomen'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

Reoffend 30 Days

Reoffend 60 Days

Reoffend 90 Days

0123456789

Recidivism RatesData taken from public database

Thank you for listening!Questions?

Unlocking the GatesWomen in2 Healing

Webpage:womenin2healing.orgEmail:womenin2healing@gmail.com