Rehumanizing Reintegration: Intensive Case Management Effectively Supporting Community Re-Entry Post Incarceration in Canada
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55578/fepr.2604.006Keywords:
Reintegration, Incarceration, Trauma-Informed, Case Management, RecidivismAbstract
This article examines the effectiveness of intensive case management (ICM) as a rehumanizing framework for supporting racialized individuals transitioning from incarceration to community re-entry in Canada. The study focuses on the Prosper program delivered by the community organization Amadeusz (learn more at https://amadeusz.ca/home), which provides culturally responsive, relationship-centered supports for individuals facing firearm-related charges. Guided by Critical Race Theory and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies, two focus groups with six racialized female caseworkers were conducted alongside examining archival interviews and program evaluation data. Thematic analysis identified three interconnected dimensions of effective reintegration practice: (1) building trust through relational accountability, (2) integrating culturally sustaining and trauma-informed care into services provided, and (3) navigating systemic barriers through advocacy and cross-sector collaborations. Quantitative program outcomes from 2018 to 2022 indicate that approximately 64% of 57 Prosper program participants did not re-offend, while qualitative findings highlight the importance of sustained relationships and culturally grounded care in facilitating stability and self-efficacy among participants. The findings contribute to filling in the research gap by highlighting the critical role of community-based organizations as intermediaries between marginalized populations and institutional systems, offering reforms for policy and practice for reimagining more effective reintegration frameworks in Canada and beyond.
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