Building a Road to Promise

by Michael Quintero Moore

For many prisoners who are released from state and federal prisons, trying to “make it” on the outside is most times more difficult than doing time on the inside. Decent jobs are scarce, housing is next to impossible; and some families and friends struggle with accepting the return of their loved ones.

In a society that takes pride on giving people a second chance, it is hard to find someone who is willing to open their hearts and doors to someone fresh out of prison. Apparently, it is much easier to preach than it is to practice.

In spite of the pseudo liberals and the NIMBYites, a growing number of policymakers, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations have begun to focus on preparing incarcerated men and women for life after prison. This is something that Councilwoman Miller has been doing for decades.

Long before her career as an elected official, Councilwoman Miller has been an advocate for the rights of ex-offenders, and a driving force behind the creation of the Mayor’s Office of Re-entry; an agency that that provides the formerly incarcerated with help in transitioning from prison.
Philadelphia leads the rest of the state both in the number of people behind bars and the rate at which people are jailed. Critics of the prison system claim rates of recidivism are also among the highest in the Commonwealth because the emphasis has been on punishment rather than rehabilitation and reentry. “While we have made strides in helping ex-offenders remain ex-offenders, it’s still a challenge,” said Councilwoman Miller. "Now, with the current state of the economy, it’s even more of challenge."

“If you think it is hard for the average worker who has never been to prison, imagine what it’s like for those who are just coming out of prison.” Miller added. “Today, it’s even more crucial for us to make these programs work.”

In a 2003 study by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it was reported that, the typical returning prisoner was a 31-year-old African-American male, unmarried with at least one dependent, who had dropped out before completing high school. Those with multiple periods of incarceration were more likely to be black, single and have more dependents. They are also younger (29 compared to 32 years old), and tend to have higher levels of education attainment - although this difference may be due in part to repeated exposure to in-prison GED programs.

Covenant House Health Services Enters 50 Years of Service to the Community

In 1964 a young, community-minded pediatrician with support from ten members of the First United Methodist Church of Germantown established a modest pediatric practice at 251 East Bringhurst Street in East Germantown. From this humble beginning Covenant House Health Services (CHHS) has evolved over four decades into a comprehensive primary care health services agency. Its mission continues to be the provision of comprehensive and affordable primary care health services principally to the low income and/or uninsured residents of Germantown and northwest Philadelphia. As such CHHS is one of the few primary care providers in northwest Philadelphia that serves as a safety-net for those individuals seeking care secure in the knowledge he or she won’t be turned away due to an inability to pay for needed care. Covenant House, Inc. continues to deliver services at its original location although we plan to open an additional site in the near future.

So what’s been happening in health care. Need I ask? Like the rest of the nation Philadelphia has been adversely affected by job losses and anemic job growth. This current trend is likely to continue well into 2009. As more and more Philadelphians lose jobs, and have difficulty obtaining a new job, their health status is placed at risk. The high cost of health care insurance makes insurance obtained through the private market, outside of employer-sponsored group health insurance, unaffordable. Thus unemployment becomes at least a double-edged sword. Not only is there a loss of income but also health insurance, assuming your employer offered health insurance to begin with. Once health insurance stops, the uninsured person typically delays getting preventive and acute care on a regular basis. When symptoms become intolerable he or she goes to the hospital emergency room where good care may be received but at an astounding cost. For those who have major ailments hospital-based treatment is beyond unaffordable. Credible studies have shown costly hospital bills are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy. This scenario can be prevented or ameliorated by coming to Covenant House, Inc. on a regular basis whether insured or uninsured. By obtaining preventive health care it is far more likely that conditions that become life threatening or debilitating, if left untreated, can be successfully diagnosed and an appropriate treatment plan implemented. So please don’t give up hope or neglect your health care.

In keeping with an emphasis on preventive health care, in 2007 Covenant House began participation in the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Healthy Woman Program (HWP). HWP is a breast and cervical cancer early detection program for low and moderate income women with no or limited insurance and age 40 – 64 years. Under HWP eligible women receive such services as clinical breast examinations, mammograms, instruction on self breast examination, Pap tests (a basic test for cervical cancer) and pelvic examinations. It’s not widely known but breast cancer represents more Pennsylvania female cancer cases than any other type of cancer and it is the second leading cause of female cancer death. Yet through early detection services breast and cervical cancer can be accurately diagnosed and successfully treated. Regular mammograms are now recommended for all women over 40 years of age. Although mammograms and Pap tests can be costly especially if a women is uninsured because of the HWP program Covenant House, Inc. is able to offer these services free of charge or at minimal charge. ¦