The Life Changing Group (TLC)

Overview

Ex-Offenders in Baltimore participate in reducing structural risk through service provision and housing reconstruction.

The TLC’s program, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), seeks to address individual and structural sources of risk for the ex-offender population returning to selected communities in Baltimore. The project will seek to show that observed positive changes in structural risk are associated with decreased prevalence of Substance Abuse and HIV among re-entry residents. The focus will be on men, 21-50 years old, who have been released from prison or jail in the last 2 years. Phase I involves profiling the TLC Project Area in terms of socio-demographic, epidemiological characteristics, and available resources. Phase II is the intervention phase which involves a two part intervention strategy that will address the short-term individual sources of risk and expand upon the existing, long-term initiatives that make up TLC (there is a job training program, house reconstruction and in-house counseling and medical referral service that is supported by the Open Society Institute and the Abell Foundation). Phase III will involve reentry participants directly as they work with TLC staff to develop and implement action plans. These plans will focus on providing a peer driven approach that combines the long-term strategy of structural change with the short-term strategy of implementing prevention programs. Plans will target opportunities to address behaviors, programs, policies, or practices associated with SA and HIV acquisition and transmission. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine will work with the Center for Communication Programs at the Bloomberg School of Public Health to provide program direction as well as the development of the monitoring and evaluation system and epidemiological support.

Accomplishments

• The initial outcomes from the pilot effort that preceded the start of the program have been very positive as over 75% of initial trainees were able to find employment in the construction field and two abandoned houses have been reclaimed.
• A unique monitoring and evaluation system is under development that includes the integration of cell phone technology for survey data collection and mapping of risk indicators using GPS.