Adapting and Implementing an Evidence-Based Reentry Intervention for Incarcerated Transgender Women: Lessons Learned.
Jae M SeveliusDanielle A CastroVanessa WarriLuna Moreta AvilaDeepalika ChakravartySophia Zamudio-HaasKatie KramerKate Monico KleinBarry ZackPublished in: Journal of correctional health care : the official journal of the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (2023)
Incarceration is a significant public health issue that disproportionately impacts transgender (trans) women, particularly those of color. The cycle of incarceration interacts with high levels of substance use, mental illness, and HIV to produce a high disease burden among trans women, but, to date, there are no published studies of trans-specific reentry support interventions. Informed by the Model of Gender Affirmation, we systematically adapted and pilot tested the evidence-based Project START intervention to create Girlfriends Connect (GC), a reentry support intervention for trans women incarcerated in a county jail. Qualitative interviews with trans women (10 prerelease and 6 postrelease) and community social service providers and jail staff ( n = 7) who serve justice-involved transgender women, as well as input from a community advisory board, informed our adaptation. We then conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial ( n = 14) and a service implementation project ( n = 16) of GC to examine its feasibility and acceptability. Lessons learned include the importance of peer facilitators, facilitated referral to gender-affirming community resources, and obtaining programmatic buy-in from jail staff and administration. Results indicate that GC is feasible and acceptable, and holds promise in improving the health of transgender women reentering the community after a period of incarceration.
Keyphrases
- mental health
- randomized controlled trial
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- healthcare
- public health
- mental illness
- pregnancy outcomes
- cervical cancer screening
- quality improvement
- breast cancer risk
- type diabetes
- primary care
- high resolution
- systematic review
- insulin resistance
- pregnant women
- hepatitis c virus
- clinical trial
- gas chromatography
- machine learning
- risk assessment
- adipose tissue
- risk factors
- tandem mass spectrometry
- binding protein
- simultaneous determination
- long term care