BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR HEALTH: CHARLES’S STORY

Trust yourself. Have patience. Become an information-seeker. This is advice Charles has for people being released from prison, and they were the tenets he followed during his own reentry in 2018. After 23 years inside, he faced many challenges adjusting to society, one of which was accessing primary healthcare. Although his journey remains unfinished, Charles is proud of the progress he’s made since he decided to take responsibility for his health at The Fortune Society. “This is…the first time I’m actually living in society [as a] productive citizen,” he said. “[Fortune is] the kind of hand that I needed.” After release, Charles had to navigate a confusing bureaucracy to apply for benefits and access primary care. One challenge he faced was obtaining copies of his medical records, a common difficulty after prison, which he needed to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). At the time, he also didn’t have a primary care doctor, who would have quicker access to his medical records. He was especially motivated to seek care for the chronic pain he continues to experience due to injuries he endured from physical violence in prison. But this changed at Fortune. Our Care Management Unit not only gathered information for his SSI appeal, but helped him find a primary care doctor. “When I got my primary care doctor, it was off to the races,” said Charles. His doctor quickly obtained his medical records, which furthered his SSI application. She also referred him to hand and back specialists, who continue to strengthen his ligaments. The pain hasn’t gone away—but with professional help, Charles is learning to manage it. In prison, Charles recalls how medical care can be traumatic, and how he faced combative guards and medical professionals. Thus, distrust towards medical professionals among people with justice involvement can be difficult to overcome. However, this was not an issue for Charles. From the start, he was determined to receive the care he deserved. At doctor’s appointments, he’s clear, truthful, and asks questions. “I don’t play with my health,” he said. “I’m trying to live as long as I can. This is my life, so I’m going to try to take responsibility for it.” In order to take responsibility for his health, however, Charles had to trust himself first. “I got to trust myself enough first to allow me to trust you…” he said. “That’s the first thing I learned in helping myself.”  “I don’t play with my health. I’m trying to live as long as I can. This is my life, so I’m going to try to take responsibility for it.”

ACCESSING SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT AFTER INCARCERATION

BY RONNALD HARRIOTTE Transitional Specialist Coordinator The Fortune Society

As a Transitional Specialist Coordinator for The Fortune Society’s Connections to Care (C2C) initiative, I help individuals with opioid use issues make the transition from prison back into the community. At C2C, we engage in advocacy, provide referrals to supportive services, and give muchneeded moral support to individuals struggling with opioid use.

In my work, I’ve witnessed firsthand the gaps in valuable services and information during reentry. Individuals with a history of substance use being released from custody face unique information gaps. Here are some of the obstacles, as well as tips for overcoming them:

No Health Insurance: People are often released from custody without active health insurance, which they need to receive services from treatment programs for Methadone.

• However, under OASAS guidelines, if a person is released from custody and referred to treatment for methadone, the client is entitled to receive “Courtesy Dosages” until their insurance is active.

No Identification: Individuals are often released from custody without New York State-issued ID, which can deter them from following up with treatment.

• Under OASAS guidelines, if a person appears at a treatment facility with a valid referral, but has no ID, his referral should be accepted and he or she should be administered a “Courtesy Dosage.”

Stigma: As individuals attempt to access treatment, they will often choose not to follow through out of fear about how some people will view them, treat them, or respond to their requests.

• It is your right to seek and receive treatment. You are entitled to receive treatment without negative responses or judgment. In fact, the treatment you receive should be encouraging and propel you forward.

Information is the key to a healthy community. Information is the key to healthy prisons. Granted, the information included in this article only pertains to those detained and preparing to be released in New York. If you are preparing for reentry and are being referred to a Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program (MMTP), be sure to follow up with your counselor prior to release to ensure you will have an active referral.

Everyday, compassion and empathy are reflected in the staff who help C2C clients. In an evaluation report, one former C2C participant said the following about his Transitional Specialist: “He calls me at least three times a week just to make sure that I am focused and I’m still continuing to stay on the right path...I don’t have regular friends that do that, and he does.”

Surround yourself with people who will contribute to your sobriety in a constructive way, and your path to sustained recovery will be easier and more successful.

If you are in New York and have questions regarding your rights to treatment, contact the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS): (518) 473-3460. 1450 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12203.

If you will be released in the near future and you are interested in our services, you can also write or call C2C with questions: Ronnald Harriotte Transitional Specialist Coordinator The Fortune Society 625 West 140th Street New York, NY 10031 646-937-5351 (Direct Line). 