This episode contains mentions of intimate partner violence, murder and substance use disorder.

In the final episode, meet Ivy Johnson (she/her) a Psychological First Responder, Caretaker and Social Justice and Anti Violence Activist. Ivy uses her experience with incarceration to highlight the need to repeal the forced labor statute in the 13th Amendment. She also shares her story around housing insecurity and supervision burdens and barriers in her quest for a successful reentry journey. Later in the episode, GWI Program and Data Manager Aathira Chennat interviews Liz Johnston, Re-entry Coach and Certified Peer Support and Recovery Specialist with Family Services of Montgomery County. Liz talks about the work of supporting individuals who return home from incarceration and connects re-entry to the gender wealth gap.

Sources:

-On Housing Insecurity and Re-entry for Women: https://generocity.org/philly/2024/03/20/from-bars-to-belonging-overcoming-the-housing-crisis-facing-returning-citizens/

-On 13th Amendment: 13th amendment Loophole

Abolition Amendment Legislation

-On Parole Sundown: Parole Sundown

We welcome Angie Orozco-Rasique (she/her), a Peer Educator with the Women's Outreach and Advocacy Center at Cthe ommunity College of Philadelphia and the Founder of the Period Poverty Project. In this episode, Angie traces her trajectory as an advocate for comprehensive reproductive health justice for incarcerated women. She reflects on finding her voice and connecting her personal journey with her passion for equity. We learn more about reproductive health justice for folks who are incarcerated and how policies fail to provide the services and supports needed.

Sources:

-On Reproductive Health for Incarcerated Individuals: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9851923/

-The SPOT Period Germantown

-On Period Poverty in Prisons: https://www.aclu.org/news/prisoners-rights/why-im-fighting-for-menstrual-equity-in-prison

This episode contains mention of Substance Use, Mental Health struggles and the Opioid Epidemic.

In this episode, we hear from Monique Taylor (she/her), a Special Initiative Outreach Worker at Project HOME. Monique reflects on her history with substance abuse disorder and reflects on the supports she needed before, during and after her incarceration. Later, GWI Director Kelly Sheard speaks with Carol Thomas, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Project HOME. Together, they unpack solutions and strategies to rethink how society engages with community members struggling with addiction and their interactions with the carceral system.

Resources for Show Notes:

-On Women, Substance Abuse and Incarceration: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2020/11/10/women-drug-enforcement/

-On Substance Abuse Treatment and Reentry Populations: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2797118/

-Access to OUD treatment- discriminatory insurance policies that make access to opioid treatment more difficult and expensive to access https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/medicaid-expansion-alone-wont-stop-the-opioid-overdose-crisis/