Recognizing Perspectives on Community Reentry From Offenders with Mental Illness: Using the Afrocentric Framework and Concept Mapping with Adult Detainees

Abstract

By using concept-mapping techniques and incorporating the Afrocentric framework, this study demonstrated that people with mental illnesses, when asked and provided the means to participate, can engage in meaningful identification of their needs, service conceptualization, and prioritization. They provided 13 service area needs that included 104 indicators of their success when returning to the community. The identification of these indicators of success is helpful to program developers so that they can address the challenges of the consumer, and move offenders with mental illness toward independent living. Implications of the findings for social workers and public health professionals working in the corrections field are explored and discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Afrocentric social work
• community reentry
• concept mapping
• offenders with mental illness

Preparation of this article was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; Grant 5R25MH080669). The NIMH had no further role in the conceptualization or preparation of this manuscript, or the decision to submit this paper for publication.

Notes

Note. OMI = offenders with mental illness.

Note. OMI = offenders with mental illness.