Wellness Curriculum: Teaching Inmates to Take Care of Their Health

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Wellness CurriculumTeaching Inmates to Take
Care of Their Health

• Yolanda G. Martinez, Ph.D.
• Office of Minority Health
• Orange County Health Department

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Improving the Health of the Community by
Improving the Health of Inmates
Societal Impact of Released Inmates
More Acquired Limitations
Prison System
Societal Barriers
Acquired Limitations
ROOTS
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Wellness Curriculum

• 2001
• Rationale need to provide health education to
  incarcerated individuals
• Original project sought to provide education and
  link newly released individuals to health, work
  and housing

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Wellness Curriculum Components

• Teacher Manual (English)
• Student Manual (English and Spanish)
• Transparencies
• 6 chapters
• High Blood Pressure
• Diabetes
• Breast Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Colorectal Cancer
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases

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Wellness Curriculum Evaluation

• Demographic form (name, race/ethnicity, last
  grade completed, zip code of residence, and known
  health problems)
• Pre-test (English and Spanish)
• Post-test (English and Spanish)
• Teacher Feedback Form

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Wellness Curriculum Timeline

• March 17, 2003 June 6, 2003
• 12 weeks
• 1 group every 2 weeks
• Total participants 538
• Average age 32.3
• Age range 14 - 65

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Wellness Curriculum / Orange County Corrections
Department
OCCD Project Project
Adult Male 2,852 472 17
Adult Female 449 79 17
Juvenile 33 33 100
Total 3,334 584 17
As of June 2003
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Wellness Curriculum Participant Race/Ethnicity
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Wellness Curriculum Participant Educational
Level
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Participant Zip Code of Residence
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Areas of Health Concern
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Areas of Health Concern as Identified by Female
Inmates
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Other Areas of Health Concern Identified by
Female Inmates

• African American circulatory problems (3.7),
  digestive problems (7.4) chronic diseases
  (3.7).
• Hispanic thyroid (18.8), back problems (12.5),
  circulatory (6.3), respiratory problems (50)
• White cholesterol, respiratory, seizures,
  digestive problems (3.4)

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Health Issues Identified by Medical Staff

• Preconception
• Reproductive Health
• Pregnancy and HIV
• Pregnancy and drug addiction including smoking
• Chronic diseases such as HBP, asthma, diabetes,
  seizures, etc.

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Health Issues Identified by Medical Staff Cont.

• Depression and Anxiety
• Abuse
• Polyps among women of color
• Nutrition
• Physical activity
• Parenting skills