Kristin Merss, Barbara J Bowers, Katy Mijal, Craig Fabian, Ryan P Westergaard
{"title":"Navigating reentry: a qualitative analysis of health system engagement among adults with chronic health conditions after release from prison.","authors":"Kristin Merss, Barbara J Bowers, Katy Mijal, Craig Fabian, Ryan P Westergaard","doi":"10.1080/2997965x.2026.2633144","DOIUrl":"10.1080/2997965x.2026.2633144","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Transitioning from prison to the community is accompanied by multiple challenges which limit individuals' ability to access health care after release. To address this gap, we developed and pilot-tested a nurse-delivered, transitional case management intervention in two state prisons in the Midwestern U.S. The goal of this analysis was to understand how the intervention, named Call2Care, supported recently-released men and women to attend a primary care appointment after release from prison. We conducted semi-structured interviews with formerly incarcerated men and women after their participation in Call2Care. Interviews were analyzed using an experiential approach to thematic analysis. Major themes identified were Aligning Priorities and Resources, Teaching and Rehearsing Logistics of Health System Use, Impact of Context, and Gaining Trust. All of these themes occur within the context of Feeling Overwhelmed during release and reentry. The complex challenges faced by people returning to the community after prison oftentimes negatively affect their ability to access health are services after release, requiring strategic efforts to support access to care after incarceration. Call2Care is a strategy to support people to access primary care services after release from prison, while also providing additional supports and resources which are not explicitly health-related.</p>","PeriodicalId":520884,"journal":{"name":"Justice, opportunities, and rehabilitation","volume":"65 3","pages":"129-148"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13095148/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147795968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jodie M Dewey, Justin S Bell, Dana LaVergne, Leonard A Jason, Dennis P Watson
{"title":"\"Trust the process:\" NARR Level 3 recovery home approaches to working with criminal legal system-involved residents.","authors":"Jodie M Dewey, Justin S Bell, Dana LaVergne, Leonard A Jason, Dennis P Watson","doi":"10.1080/2997965x.2025.2467729","DOIUrl":"10.1080/2997965x.2025.2467729","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Individuals involved with the criminal legal system (CLS) face significant challenges upon release from carceral settings, particularly those with substance use disorders (SUD), including opioid overdose rates considerably greater than the general population. Recovery homes play a pivotal role in providing a supportive and stable living environment for individuals reentering the community. However, little is known about recovery homes' ability to assist residents in meeting court-ordered requirements and facilitating connections to community resources. Findings from focus groups conducted with staff from four Level 3 recovery homes as part of a larger comparative case study show recovery home staff are crucial to the long-term success of CLS-involved individuals. Staff leverage their lived experience to create a safe, trusting environment, channeling residents' energy into structured recovery plans that build incremental stability. They provide in-house programming, connect residents to community resources, assist with probation/parole conditions, and shield against situations that might hinder recovery. This study highlights the crucial role of recovery home staff in bridging the gap between courts and CLS-involved residents, supporting long-term recovery and reentry. We recommend future research to explore intra-agency models where staff expertise can drive system-level changes for sustained recovery and reintegration.</p>","PeriodicalId":520884,"journal":{"name":"Justice, opportunities, and rehabilitation","volume":"64 3","pages":"179-196"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12142564/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144251980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}