Building Effective Women's Reentry Programs: A Roadmap for Supporting Women's Transition from Prison to Communities

Background: The DHHS, OWH and JSI initiated a project to develop a best practices model and set of recommendations for services in the form of a “roadmap” for providers to meet the needs of women re-entering the community after release from prison. The roadmap highlights the importance of a holistic, gender-responsive approach to women's re-entry, which counters the personal and social determinants that place women at-risk. A gender-responsive approach facilitates open and honest societal dialogue around gender-sensitive issues that directly impact a woman's risk for re-incarceration.

Methods: The roadmap was the result of a literature review, site visits, and interviews with program staff. The aim of this data gathering was to identify the factors of successful reentry, and to identify a range of services that work. Three demonstration projects will receive funding to apply the roadmap to their re-entry programs to bolster their existing services and to influence staff knowledge toward women leaving prison. A short-term process and outcomes evaluation will be conducted.

Results: Preliminary developmental data collected from a literature review, site visits, and key expert interviews supported the effectiveness of a gender-responsive, holistic approach. Demonstration sites are in the planning phase, thus outcome data on the health and well-being of participant women and their families, recidivism, and knowledge and attitudes of staff has not been collected.

Outcomes: This roadmap, if positively tested, can guide service providers to improve staff knowledge and attitudes, services, and ultimately the lives of these women.