title: Policy advocacy and leadership training for formerly incarcerated women: an empowerment evaluation of ReConnect, a program of the Women in Prison Project, Correctional Association of New York.
abstract: There is limited knowledge on re-entry initiatives for formerly incarcerated women specifically on building women's advocacy and leadership skills. Our research highlights an empowerment evaluation on ReConnect, a 12-session; innovative advocacy and leadership development program rooted in an integrated framework of empowerment, and transformational leadership theories. Using thematic analysis, we coded three focus groups with 24 graduates, for themes that matched our framework's concepts. ReConnect graduates reported being empowered by the information they received on parental rights, housing, and employment. Participants agreed that ReConnect improved their communication skills, preparing them to advocate for themselves and community members.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY, United States. Electronic address: rmp98@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Correctional Association of New York, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D057766:Policy; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012935:Social Justice; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Empowerment evaluation; Formerly incarcerate women; Leadership; Reentry