Fresh Start: Wellness for Re-Entering Residents

Health care access

South LA San Fernando Valley East LA

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

43% of state prisoners have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder; every 1% increase in the rate of incarceration at county-level jails links to a 15% increase in the average reported poor mental health days. With the largest jail system in the US and concentration of incarcerated people (980 inmates per 100,000 residents), LA County’s mental health crises - especially in disproportionately-impacted communities like South Central and San Fernando we serve - are inseparable from mass incarceration.
With the state’s slow turn to decarceration, thousands of Angelenos are being released with invisible barriers to wellness and stability, including PTSD, anxiety, depression. The experiences of staff and participants remind these manifest as struggles with self-regulation, decision making, and self-worth. These lead to community-level effects significantly hampering holding down jobs, navigating systems, re-establishing healthy relationships and fully contributing to civic life.

Building from our expansive, trauma-informed and empowerment-centered work clearing thousands of records in LA County, our new Fresh Start program addresses the emotional and psychological toll of mass incarceration. TSIC staff have become certified mental health providers in Mindology Fitness, a complementary and alternative medicine program that combines physical movement with mental health exercises and tools. TSIC’s expansion of the program offers a holistic approach to mental wellness, combining meditation, self-reflection, and practical daily actions that empower participants to rebuild their lives and face potential stressors. In tandem with ongoing programs, at least 18 mental health workshops will be held, serving over 540 formerly-incarcerated people. We will create 5 educational videos to broaden access to these tools, ensuring even those who cannot commit to longer programs can benefit from trauma-informed mental health resources.
At least 20 individuals who get their record cleared and/or participate in a mental health workshop will have the opportunity to become paid Fresh Start Fellows. This six-week peer-support psychotherapy program, supervised by a licensed mental health professional, will provide both mental health support and certifications to offer others these tools that will enhance workplace, education and personal success. Fellows will then lead future workshops and developing online content, while opening up to related employment opportunities.

In one year 540 formerly-incarcerated people will gain accessible tools and motivation for self-regulation and self-worth to navigate economic, social and personal re-entry challenges. With access to our legal record-clearing and systems-navigation they will better succeed in LA’s workforce. Each will be further motivated to build healthy relationships with family/friends and see themselves as valued civic participants, expanding involvement, integration and joy in LA’s hard-hit communities.
Our fellowship will develop 20 formerly-incarcerated leaders who can better vision and pursue contributive life goals, also able to seek public, nonprofit or private employment/consulting with concrete wellness support skills. They will lead future scaling, as trainers for increasing cohorts and workshops. Over the years ahead they will model a care-first and wellness-centered approach that can reshapes re-entry services and broader approaches to economic, social and civic participation in LA.