This month, the “Take Charge of Your Health Today” page focuses on the continuity of care after incarceration. Vianca Masucci, health advocate at the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, and Esther L. Bush, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, exchanged ideas on this topic.
EB: Hello, Vianca. You must be pleased to be covering post-incarceration health care this month. I understand that it’s a topic that’s close to your heart.
VM: It is, Ms. Bush. Because African Americans are incarcerated at disproportionately high rates, many of our programs at the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh keep the needs of previously incarcerated individuals in mind. Consequently, I often have the opportunity to counsel these clients on getting the health care they need.
EB: Incarceration can have ramifications in so many directions, long past confinement. What has been your experience when helping formerly incarcerated members of our community establish and navigate their health care?
VM: What I’ve found is that there are many needs and barriers in place for previously incarcerated individuals when it comes to standardizing their health care. Many of my clients suffer from some kind of chronic illness or are ill because they didn’t receive the best health care while incarcerated. Many don’t have health records or established relationships with doctors. Most of them need help securing health insurance. Almost all of them struggle with the cost of care, especially those who are having trouble finding employment. Even those who did have established care before incarceration struggle to get reconnected after so many months or even years of being confined. It’s a lot of work and takes extensive knowledge of the health care system and preventative care recommendations to really help a previously incarcerated individual bring his or her care up to standard.
EB: Where my mind goes immediately, considering these health care barriers among all the barriers that this population faces, is priorities. It must be hard to prioritize your health while worrying about finding a job or a place to live. These are fundamental necessities. We know that it’s usually very challenging for individuals with criminal records to rebuild their lives. So, how do you impress upon someone in that position how important it is to connect to a doctor when it can be a time-consuming process riddled with obstacles and she or he may be more worried about how to find an income or a home?
VM: That’s a tough question, Ms. Bush. And I think that it’s even bigger than just impressing that importance on the individual. I would also like to put the burden of answering that question on us, as community members and professionals who work to address the needs of this population. How do we prioritize the health of our previously incarcerated community members when the resources that we have are limited and there may be more immediate issues to deal with, like employment or housing? I think the answer to that question begins to shake loose when we consider the statistic that Dr. Mulvey shares with us in the overview: Around 20 percent of the prison population has a serious mental disorder at any given time. This population is at greater risk for certain illnesses and so their health needs are high. They must be connected to care. Further, if proper mental health treatment is not received after incarceration, individuals may find themselves repeating behaviors that got them in trouble in the first place. In this way, not receiving health care in the right time contributes to the cycle of incarceration. Yes, the barriers are difficult. Yes, there are many of them. But they all contribute to people returning to incarceration. We cannot ignore that.
EB: You are absolutely right, Vianca. This issue has many layers and, at the heart of it, the problem is a lack of resources and infrastructure to manage the needs of this population. Dr. Mulvey mentions that community reintegration programs can help with issues like this. I agree. We need more support in place to help our previously incarcerated community members. That’s an institutional problem that must be solved on the government level. So, as community members and citizens, it’s important for us to pay attention to the restorative justice movement and vote accordingly.
VM: I second that suggestion, Ms. Bush! I’d also like to mention that the Health Education Office at the Urban League is a resource for anyone looking for help navigating their care or securing health resources. Our services are free. We are open five days a week.
EB: Our HEO is a great resource. I encourage folks to check it out.
VM: Thank you for your time, Ms. Bush. I am grateful for the opportunity to chat with you about this topic. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on next month’s topic—e-cigarettes.
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