| Autor: |
Sevelius JM; Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, Division of Prevention Science, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA., Castro DA; Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, Division of Prevention Science, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA., Warri V; Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA., Moreta Avila L; Young Women's Freedom Center, San Francisco, California, USA., Chakravarty D; Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, Division of Prevention Science, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA., Zamudio-Haas S; Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, Division of Prevention Science, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA., Kramer K; The Bridging Group, Oakland, California, USA., Monico Klein K; Jail Health Services, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, USA., Zack B; The Bridging Group, Oakland, California, USA. |
| Abstrakt: |
Incarceration is a significant public health issue that disproportionately impacts transgender (trans) women, particularly those of color. The cycle of incarceration interacts with high levels of substance use, mental illness, and HIV to produce a high disease burden among trans women, but, to date, there are no published studies of trans-specific reentry support interventions. Informed by the Model of Gender Affirmation, we systematically adapted and pilot tested the evidence-based Project START intervention to create Girlfriends Connect (GC), a reentry support intervention for trans women incarcerated in a county jail. Qualitative interviews with trans women (10 prerelease and 6 postrelease) and community social service providers and jail staff ( n = 7) who serve justice-involved transgender women, as well as input from a community advisory board, informed our adaptation. We then conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial ( n = 14) and a service implementation project ( n = 16) of GC to examine its feasibility and acceptability. Lessons learned include the importance of peer facilitators, facilitated referral to gender-affirming community resources, and obtaining programmatic buy-in from jail staff and administration. Results indicate that GC is feasible and acceptable, and holds promise in improving the health of transgender women reentering the community after a period of incarceration. |
