Passport to Freedom: A Trauma-Informed Mindfulness Program for Previously Incarcerated Women

Abstract

Poly-victimization is often reported by formerly incarcerated women and leads to physical and mental health problems that interfere with daily functioning, sustained employment, and housing stability. Although reentry programs exist, few focus on the physical and emotional impact of multiple traumas. Passport to Freedom (P2F), a woman-centered, trauma-informed reentry program, was developed to support formerly incarcerated women. The pilot intervention, performed in 2017, focused on the connections between trauma and health, coping with symptoms, and managing one's own health. To examine the effectiveness and feasibility of the intervention, we performed the current mixed methods study with two phases: (1) focus groups, and (2) sessions combining mindfulness and health promotion activities with follow-up evaluations. Participants ( N = 24) showed decreased symptoms of depression and concerns of everyday stressors after the intervention. Of participants, 84% ( n = 16) reported practicing mindfulness and 63% ( n = 8) stated that mindfulness exercises helped with daily stress management. The P2F program offers a promising approach to support formerly incarcerated women with health self-management. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx (xx), xx–xx.]