Community Health Care Workers from the Carceral Landscape

Project Description Narrative:

Incarcerated individuals face higher rates of substance use disorders, mental illnesses, and chronic diseases compared to the general population. In Wisconsin, these issues are made more challenging by significant racial disparities in incarceration rates.

This project aims to train incarcerated individuals in Wisconsin as community health workers (CHWs) to build health-related skills and improve their employability post-release. By leveraging the "prep-entry" period before release, the project will provide tailored CHW training and ongoing support to these individuals, helping them serve as health resources in prison and in their communities after release.

The initiative is expected to enhance self-care practices and health awareness among the incarcerated population, counteract health misinformation, and promote positive health behaviors within their communities as they reintegrate.

Community partners: Aurora Re-Connect-MKE, UniteWI