Healthy Release: Health Centers Working to Improve Health and Housing Outcomes for Justice-Involved Populations

People exiting prisons and jails are disproportionately affected by chronic health, mental health, and substance use conditions. They also frequently experience housing instability and homelessness, further exacerbating health conditions and increasing the likelihood of re-offense. Health centers are uniquely situated to address health challenges for this population through coordination of access to services, including benefits access, peer engagement models, and partnering with housing providers. This session will highlight how health centers can address ex-prisoners’ health challenges and how they can partner with housing providers to increase stability and reduce the likelihood of a return to prison or jail.