Recovery Finance: Financial Health and Mental Health After Incarceration
Yale University
Summary
This proposal will address financial wellbeing, an often overlooked but important factor impacting reentry for justice-involved people with mental health challenges, who are disproportionately Black and Latine. The project will change community level determinants by integrating financial capability support (one-on-one coaching and access to financial tools and services) into existing services and training bank and credit union staff to reduce discrimination. It will also support collaborative community efforts working towards upstream policy and legal reforms to reduce the incidence of those financial challenges.
Description
This research project will use Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) methods to achieve the following specific aim: 1. Change community level determinants that impact financial well-being and health of the target group by training existing service provider including: i) community-based financial capability providers to be able to address financial difficulties of the target group; ii) service providers along the criminal justice pathway to be able to provide basic financial guidance to target group; iii) financial institution staff to reduce discrimination related to financial consequ…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Have been released from jail or prison 36 months ago or less * Self-identify as having experiences with trauma, mental illness/mental distress, or substance use * Living or using services in the greater New Haven area * Interested in receiving financial guidance Exclusion Criteria: * Less than 18 years of age * Not have been released from jail or prison 36 months ago or less * Not self-identify as having experiences with trauma, mental illness/mental distress, or substance use * Not living or using services in the greater New Haven area * Not interested in receiving fi…
Interventions
- BehavioralFinancial Capability Support with Peer Support Services
The participants in this arm will receive one-on-one financial coaching, which entails monthly or more frequent meetings with a financial coach. Participants will also receive access to safe and affordable financial services, which includes support with managing any existing bank accounts, or supporting a person to open a new overdraft-free account. Coaches can also help people to access other financial products such as free tax preparation (VITA), credit builder loans, online bank accounts, or other products recommended by our Justice Tech partner. The participants will also receive will receive the additional services of one-on-one peer support provided by a trained Recovery Support Specialist. Recovery Support Specialist, also referred to as Wellness coaches, will provide weekly meetings (30-60 minutes in duration) to the participants.
Location
- Yale University Program for Recovery and Community HealthNew Haven, Connecticut