NCJ Number
187951
Date Published
2000
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This paper describes South Australia's Women's Accommodation Support Service, which began in March 2000 as a pilot project intended to address the needs of women released from prison who are without safe, secure, and stable accommodation.
Abstract
Although the focus of the program is on the securing of accommodation after release, the use of a holistic approach to fulfilling this aim is considered vital. In order to maintain the accommodation, it is essential that other issues that may be causing distress or concern in the woman's life are also addressed. These may include social adjustment and acceptance, lack of support networks, financial difficulties, drug and/or alcohol use, domestic violence, being an adult survivor of child abuse, mental health, physical health, sexuality, parenting, family reunification, legal problems, and unemployment. Some of these issues are addressed within the case-management role, but others may require referral to appropriate services. Over the 8 months that this service has been operating, it has become clear that work with this client group is generally not suited to short-term intervention. Many, if not most, of the women released from prison have suffered severe and chronic trauma in their lives. The process of addressing and overcoming the effects of trauma may take up to 5 years after release. A constant and often intense supportive relationship over time is crucial to positive outcomes for many women in the target group. 4 references