Participative Planning to Enhance Inmate Wellness: Preliminary Report of a Correctional Wellness Program

Abstract

This report describes the implementation of a comprehensive wellness intervention in a corrections-based substance abuse program. The wellness program was modeled after successful work site wellness initiatives. The PRECEDE-PROCEED (Predisposing, Reinforcing, and Enabling Constructs in Educational/Environmental Diagnosis and Evaluation—Policy, Regulatory, and Organizational Constructs in Educational and Environmental Development) planning model and the Community-Based Participatory Research model were used to facilitate a participative process engaging both corrections administrators and residents of the therapeutic community. A community representative wellness committee developed and implemented an evidence-based strategic plan with short- and long-term goals supported by numerous health promotion activities. Data collection tools were used to evaluate the implementation and impact of the wellness intervention. Observations on the reasons for the program's success and barriers to overcome are detailed.