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Tenemos Voz Network expanding behavioral health resources and services for the Latino re-entry population

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Tenemos Voz Network expanding behavioral health resources and services for the Latino re-entry population

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Content Executive Summary
Tenemos Voz Network
Expanding Behavioral Health Resources and Services for the Latino Re-Entry Population
Ana L. Chavez-Mancillas Doctoral Candidate
University of Southern California
Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Doctor of Social Work Program
Renee Smith-Maddox, Ph.D., Chair
July 30, 2024

The United States, while comprising just 5% of the global population, detains a
staggering 25% of the world's prisoners (Atwell, 2012). This alarming trend is further
highlighted by The Sentencing Project's 2021 Trends in Corrections Fact Sheet, which reports a
dramatic 500% increase in the incarcerated population over the past 40 years, now totaling
around 2 million individuals. Additionally, there are 7 million people under probation and parole,
not including those in immigrant detention centers, solidifying the status of America's criminal
justice system as the largest worldwide.
A 2010 report by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse reveals that
about 75% of incarcerated individuals require substance abuse interventions, but shockingly,
only 11% receive such treatment during their incarceration. In 2017, Snedker and colleagues
shed light on the persistent challenges faced by individuals with mental health issues in the
criminal justice system. Their research exposed a troubling pattern where these individuals
impacted by behavioral health issues continuously cycle in and out of the system without making
substantial progress toward recovery. With 77 million Americans bearing criminal records and
countless others engaging with the legal system annually, the consequences on economic
stability and opportunity access are profound. As reported by LULAC 2024, Latino men face
significantly higher incarceration rates than white men (1 in 6 compared to 1 in 17). This
disparity indicates systemic issues in the criminal justice system that disproportionately affect
Latino communities, necessitating targeted interventions.
Over 70% of incarcerated individuals have at least one mental health diagnosis or
substance use disorder, or both as reported by the National Center for State Courts (2024). As
reported by the Vera Institute (2024) Latinx individuals are disproportionately represented in
federal drug cases, making up 50% of such cases despite being only 17% of the population. This

overrepresentation points to possible biases in law enforcement and judicial processes and
highlights the need for programs that can provide behavioral health education, and resources to
Latino communities. These high rates suggest that the resources available must address not only
the reintegration into society but also the underlying health issues that contribute to criminal
behavior.
Lack of information and misconceptions within the Latino communities about Latinos
who are system-impacted with a criminal record creates behavioral health disparities and greater
systemic barriers making it challenging for Latinos to reenter into communities and access
behavioral health services successfully. The system-impacted Latino population re-entering
society encounters significant obstacles to successful reintegration into society following
incarceration, leading to high recidivism rates and ongoing imprisonment cycles. These
challenges encompass insufficient language assistance, a dearth of culturally attuned programs,
restricted job prospects, and limited access to essential healthcare and social services. The
absence of tailored and comprehensive reentry efforts exacerbates these barriers, impeding the
Latino population's ability to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to society (Pettus et al.,
2021). As reported by NIH (2018), 77% of Latinos are less likely to seek help for mental health
issues. Cultural stigma, lack of access to culturally competent care, and other barriers contribute
to this reluctance, suggesting that resources whether programs or networks need to be culturally
tailored to encourage and facilitate mental health support. Furthermore, the availability of
resources for supporting the reentry population can be limited. (Butler, 2022)
Latino families and social structures have distinct characteristics that require specialized
support. A network that understands these dynamics can better assist in increasing access to
behavioral health and education and other existing local resources helping link Latinos to

behavioral health information and services. Many Latino individuals may have a mistrust of the
criminal justice system and related institutions such as behavioral health services. (Falgas, et.al
2017). A network led by Latino members of their community housed by a trusted community
organization can help build trust and encourage participation in reentry programs, ensuring that
individuals feel supported, understood, and connected.
For the development of the proposed project various tools and principles of design
thinking were used. Including exploratory research to aid in understanding the context
surrounding the problem, and desk research on the project’s theme from various resources:
books, articles, websites, blogs, etc. In-depth interviews were conducted via Zoom with eight
different stakeholders helping obtain information through dialogue with the users about the needs
of the population and existing gaps. In-person focus groups were conducted to introduce
participants to the network, the educational products available on the network, and the overall
process. During this process, participants also discussed what additional products or services
should be accessible through the network. A persona was created from the information gathered
from the interviews and aided in the design and development of the network. A journey map
was used as a visual representation prototype based on the timeline of events that made this
project possible, from the formation of the coalition to the development of the network and
content. Brainstorming was utilized during the design team meetings to encourage the design
team to generate many ideas quickly.
The proposed solution builds on current re-entry programs available to the community by
creating a network specifically for the Latino re-entry population focused specifically on
behavioral health and on educating the Latino re-entry population. Current solutions available
for the reentry population are mostly a catch-all, come-one-come-all type of program and offer a

variety of services to participants. The proposed solution aims to contribute to the Grand
Challenge of Promoting Smart Decarceration and focus specifically on the Latino re-entry
population. The solution is led by Latino leaders and will remain Latino-led throughout the
existence of the network. Understanding the unique challenges and barriers faced by Latino
individuals with criminal records upon reentry into society, including limited access to
behavioral health services, limited knowledge, and understanding about behavioral health,
employment barriers, housing discrimination, limited access to education, and restricted voting
rights, is crucial. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 9.9 percent of
Hispanics (3.4 million) need substance use treatment; Latinos were less likely than nonHispanics to have received any type of mental health treatment. As of 2022 Hispanic people had
one of the highest uninsured rates at 18.0% (Artiga & Hill 2022).
The Tenemos Voz Network is a platform designed to support returning Latino citizens by
providing education on behavioral health topics, access to local resources and services, and
fostering a sense of community and belonging. This Capstone Project aims to address the unique
challenges faced by this population in reintegrating into society. The Tenemos Voz network is a
social network, created by a group of Latino leaders with lived experiences as it relates to the
Latino re-entry population and behavioral health. The network will consist of people (nodes)
connected by various types of relationships (links). This can include friends, family, colleagues,
acquaintances, and other social connections. The design team decided to focus on behavioral
health resources and services, and it was collectively decided to have 3 resource categories,
mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention. In 2020, 27.5% of Latino adults had a
mental illness or substance use disorder (SAMHSA). 46% of Hispanic state prisoners have a
mental health problem according to the Bureau of Justice and 50% of federal drug cases involve

Latinx individuals, despite them comprising only 17% of the U.S. population (Vera Institute,
2023). Suicide is a leading cause of death among young Hispanic and Latino Americans
(NSDUH, 2024). Existing educational resources will be acquired from the National Hispanic
Latino Addiction Technology Transfer Center, the National Hispanic Latino Prevention
Technology Transfer Center, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
Mental Health America USA, the Latino Hispanic Behavioral Health Center of Excellence,
Faces, and Voices of Recovery, and other national organizations that put out current educational
resources regularly. For local services identified and promoted on the network, the
organization’s website will be visited, as well as Yelp to read reviews of services being provided
if available, the organizations will be called to ensure that those services continue to be available
and are available in Spanish if needed. Joining the network and accessing the resources
available will be free to networkers as they will be obtained from organizations that create these
materials with Federal Grant monies. The platform will have a “Contact Us” button to reach out
with questions and inquiries. 24/7 services will be encouraged and supported by providing 988
information and local crisis mobile response resources. All resources available on the platform
will be downloadable and available for printing in a resource guide and will be made available in
Spanish and English. By incorporating these components into the theory of change, the approach
becomes more holistic, addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by individuals with criminal
records and promoting their successful reintegration into society. The objectives of the Tenemos
Voz Network are:
• To disseminate existing resources and services to the Latino returning citizen population,
which include mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention resources.
• To educate Latino returning citizens on various mental health topics.

• To increase access to behavioral health services for Latino returning citizens.
The Tenemos Voz Network has a strong potential for success in educating Latino
returning citizens about behavioral health and the resources available to address their needs.
This is particularly important given the significant barriers this population faces in accessing
mental health services (Gamm, Hutchinson, Dabney, & Dorsey, 2003). With the Latino
population growing rapidly in the U.S. addressing these disparities is critical. The Tenemos Voz
Network aims to reduce behavioral health disparities and support successful reintegration for
Latino returning citizens by addressing these issues.
Being part of facilitating successful reentry contributes to the local economy by creating
productive, employed citizens and reducing the costs associated with reincarceration as reported
by research done by providing support for mental health and well-being can have far-reaching
effects, improving not just the lives of reentry individuals, but also the health of the community.
Cunha, et.al. (2023). Increased Public Awareness and Attitude Shifts can lead to increased public
understanding of the challenges reentry populations face, fostering a more empathetic and
supportive community environment. (The Harvard University Institute of Politics Criminal
Justice Policy Group, 2019).
The proposed solution holds the potential to significantly contribute to the existing
solution landscape within the realm of reentry support and criminal justice reform. Its unique
focus on the Latino re-entry population, coupled with its emphasis on educating the Latino reentry population and the community about behavioral health topics is an important part of reentry and key to helping aid in, lowering recidivism rates, and mitigating the stigma associated
with incarceration, it adds a fresh and innovative dimension to the array of interventions
currently in place.

References
Artiga, S., Hill, L., (2022). Health Coverage by Race and Ethnicity, 2010 -2021, Keiser Family
Foundation, accessed April 4, 2023. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-healthpolicy/issue-brief/health-coverage-by-race-and-ethnicity/
Atwell. (2012). Book Reviews: “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of
Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander [Review of Book Reviews: “The New Jim Crow:
Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander]. The Journal
of Southern History, 78(1), 240–241. Southern Historical Association.
Butler, L., & Taylor, E. (2022). A second chance: The impact of unsuccessful reentry and the
need for reintegration resources in Communities. https://cops.usdoj.gov/html/dispatch/04-
2022/reintegration_resources.html
Gamm, L. D., Hutchison, L. L., Dabney, B. J., & Dorsey, A. M. (2003). Rural healthy people
2010. See http://srph. tamhsc. edu/centers/rhp2010/Volume_3/Vol3rhp2010. pdf.
Falgas, I., Ramos, Z., Herrera, L., Qureshi, A., Chavez, L., Bonal, C., McPeck, S., Wang, Y.,
Cook, B., & Alegría, M. (2017). Barriers to and Correlates of Retention in Behavioral
Health Treatment Among Latinos in 2 Different Host Countries: The United States and
Spain. Journal of public health management and practice: JPHMP, 23(1), e20–e27.
https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000000391
Gamm, L. D., Hutchison, L. L., Dabney, B. J., & Dorsey, A. M. (2003). Rural healthy people
2010. See http://srph. tamhsc. edu/centers/rhp2010/Volume_3/Vol3rhp2010. pdf.
Harvard University Institute of Politics Criminal Justice Policy Group, The; (2019, December).
SUCCESSFUL REENTRY: A COMMUNITY-LEVEL ANALYSIS.

https://iop.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/2023-02/IOP_Policy_Program_2019_ Reentry_
Policy.pdf
League of United Latin American Citizens. (n.d.) Criminal Justice Reform.
https://lulac.org/advocacy/issues/criminal_justice_reform/#:~:text=Mass%20incarceration
%20has%20disproportionately%20affected,1%20in%2017%20white%20men.
National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, The; (2010). Behind
Bars II: Substance abuse and America’s prison population. New York: The National
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.
National Institutes of Health. (2018, September 12) Health Care Access and Physical and
Behavioral Health Among Undocumented Latinos in California.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6226215/#:~:text=Undocumented%20La
tinos%20were%20the%20least,due%20to%20cost%20of%20treatment.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Opioid Overdose Crisis. Retrieved from
https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis
Ortega, A. N., McKenna, R. M., Kemmick Pintor, J., Langellier, B. A., Roby, D. H., Pourat, N.,
Vargas Bustamante, A., & Wallace, S. P. (2018). Health Care Access and Physical and
Behavioral Health Among Undocumented Latinos in California. Medical care, 56(11),
919–926. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000000985
Pettus, C., Veeh, C. A., Renn, T. R., & Kennedy, S. C. (2021). The well-being development model:
A theoretical model to improve outcomes among criminal justice system–involved
individuals. Social Service Review, 95(3), 413-468.

Snedker, K. A., Beach, L. R., & Corcoran, K. E. (2017). Beyond the “revolving door?”:
Incentives and criminal recidivism in a mental health court. Criminal Justice and
Behavior, 44(9), 1141-1162.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Behavioral Health Services for
People Who Are Homeless. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2024, January 18) National Survey on
Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). https://www.samhsa.gov/data/data-we-collect/nsduhnational-survey-drug-use-and-health
Vera Institute, The; (2019, October 14) We need more data to understand the impact of Mass
Incarceration https://theverainstitute.org

Abstract (if available)

Abstract The United States has the highest rates of incarceration globally. Among those incarcerated in the United States, one in six are Latino men, compared to one in seventeen white men. (Nazgol Ghandnoosh et al., 2024) More than 70% of people in U.S. jails and prisons have at least one diagnosis of mental illness or substance use disorder, or both. Justice, M. (2022, October 19). The Vera Institute reports that 50% of federal drug cases are against Latino individuals, although they make up only about 17% of the U.S. population. Additionally, 77% of Latinos are less likely to seek help for mental health issues. Goncalvez, W. I. (2020, May). The Latino Tenemos Voz Reentry Network specifically addresses the unique challenges faced by Latino individuals within the criminal justice system, providing culturally competent, holistic, and integrated support services, information, and resources to help mitigate disparities and barriers faced by Latino communities, ultimately fostering better reintegration outcomes and contributing to systemic change.
Through a community-based network, this capstone project creates a sense of belonging and connection by leveraging and disseminating existing behavioral health informational products, resources, and services to Latino returning citizens, helping educate the reentry population about behavioral health issues, services, and resources and why they are important. This will aid in increasing access to behavioral health services and reducing stigma. It will play a vital role in providing returning citizens a path to reintegrate into society, enhancing their overall well-being, and creating safer communities.

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Asset Metadata

Creator Chavez-Mancillas, Ana Luisa (author)

Core Title Tenemos Voz Network expanding behavioral health resources and services for the Latino re-entry population

School Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

Degree Doctor of Social Work

Degree Program Social Work

Degree Conferral Date 2024-08

Publication Date 09/02/2024

Defense Date 07/30/2024

Publisher Los Angeles, California (original), University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag behavioral health services,formerly incarcerated,Latino returning citizens,reentry network.,reentry resources

Format theses (aat)

Language English

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

Advisor Smith-Maddox, Renee (committee chair), Hernandez, Haner (committee member), Hernandez, Robert (committee member)

Creator Email achavezm@usc.edu,achavezmancillas@gmail.com

Unique identifier UC11399A6H2

Identifier etd-ChavezManc-13468-ExecutiveSummary.pdf (filename)

Legacy Identifier etd-ChavezManc-13468-ExecutiveSummary

Document Type Capstone project

Format theses (aat)

Rights Chavez-Mancillas, Ana Luisa

Internet Media Type application/pdf

Type texts

Source 20240903-usctheses-batch-1206 (batch), University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

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Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 2810, 3434 South Grand Avenue, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90089-2810, USA

Repository Email cisadmin@lib.usc.edu