Returning Citizens Care Providers

Concerns

• Affordable housing is a huge issue. There is not enough supply to meet the demand. Staying with family members or friends is an option for some but not all.
• The experience of being incarcerated is traumatizing, and there are not enough mental health services in the region, especially for people in the Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ communities.
• There is still stigma associated with seeking mental health services, especially in Black and Latino/a/x communities. However, participants noted that more people are seeking mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic, so that may help to normalize seeking support.
• Many have very few options for employment.
• They find it hard to trust people when they are released. It takes awhile to build trust for them, even with family members.
  

Health

• Returning citizens may reveal their HIV status to a community-based organization before they reveal it to their families.
• Returning citizens come home with only 30 days’ worth of medications.
• Gaining access to benefits after release is challenging.
• It is important that returning citizens can engage with providers who are culturally competent.
  ‍
  

Additional Challenges

• People feel as if there are only intake and referral services. There need to be more organizations that actually provide services, instead of referring people to other facilities.
• There need to be additional older adult services for returning citizens.
• People feel as if they are a case study. They want to be treated as an individual, not a number.
• There is a need for family reunification services.
• Transportation is a major issue in Prince George’s County, Maryland, affecting job searches and compliance with appointments.
  

Strengths

• Community-based programs and government agencies are partnering to build a reentry network that provides high-quality support services to returning citizens.
• Despite the trauma that comes with being incarcerated, returning citizens are resilient and resourceful.
• Community-based organizations are building partnerships with employers to hire returning citizens. Community-based organizations also investigate why their client wasn’t hired so that they can use the feedback to better improve their training services.
• The Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizens Affairs is working to increase mental health services.
  

Solutions

What can DC Health do to support returning citizens?

• Create more wraparound services to manage the needs of returning citizens, with better collaboration between community-based organizations and government agencies.
• Develop more culturally competent providers to provide mental health services.
• Get providers to look at the whole family unit when considering services. It is important to keep the family bond strong while the person is incarcerated and after release.
• Begin services for returning citizens before they are released. Services should include a stipend and basic hygiene products.
• Increase understanding that being incarcerated is traumatic.
• Increase collaboration with the probation officer. They have the best access to the client but are not too concerned with health and social services.
• Consider the intersection of gender, race, religion, and sexuality of returning citizens and their unique needs.