Helping former prisoners obtain the health care they need after release will not only benefit them, but you will also be doing a valuable favor for their families and the entire community.
To begin a healthy life after leaving prison, former prisoners must be able to reach medical help.
For many people, being in prison was their first opportunity to receive regular medical care, even though the quality of the care they receive is usually not very good and can vary a lot.
Dental problems in prison are usually fixed by pulling out the tooth instead of fixing it.
Prison inmates are often exposed to communicable diseases such as hepatitis C, HIV, staph infections, or tuberculosis.
However, many of these cases go undiagnosed in prison and come to light only in post-release examinations.
Many prisoners struggle with mental health issues.
When community facilities are not available, prisons often end up being the place where mentally ill individuals are sent or left.
Whether prisoners face medical or mental health issues, many prisons provide only a few days’ supply of their medications upon release.
This means there is almost always a gap, ranging from days to weeks when ex-prisoners are unable to obtain important medications.
During this time, formerly incarcerated men and women—as well as those around them—are at risk.
It is in the public interest that returning prisoners get medical and mental health treatment as soon as possible.
There are a number of ways that reentry ministry volunteers and churches can help.
The first step is to learn what types of medical assistance for ex-prisoners may be available in your community.
Gathering Medical Resources
- Contact churches, Christian organizations, nonprofit groups, and local government agencies that assist ex-prisoners. Begin gathering detailed information about all the possible sources of medical, dental, and mental health treatment in your locality—with special focus on those that are free or allow patients to pay on a sliding-scale basis.
- Contact the local Social Security office and find out the current rules on Medicare and Medicaid benefits that may be available to ex-prisoners. Get samples of application forms and other literature this agency may offer.
- They may suggest additional resources—and some may even be willing to provide free checkups for a limited number of returning prisoners.
Next Steps
Once you finish your initial research, you can begin assisting ex-prisoners referred to you by your church or reentry team in finding medical treatment.
At that time, your main responsibilities will be:
- Interview the newly released prisoner and determine his/her medical concerns.
- Provide accurate information about medical resources available in your area.
- Assist with making appointments or filling out paperwork as needed.
- Develop a transportation plan to help the ex-prisoner get to appointments (which may require becoming familiar with local bus routes/schedules).
- Encourage the ex-prisoner to keep appointments and follow doctor’s orders.
- Offer to go with them to their appointments for support, if needed.
By finding out what health care choices are available in the area and assisting in the first stages of obtaining them, you will be doing a valuable favor not just for former prisoners, but also for their families and the entire community.