Just to know there’s somebody out there that has your back, to make sure your basic needs are being cared for, whether it’s getting to an appointment, getting home, or making sure you’re feeling safe enough, even with yourself, to go to the doctor.

– WORTH participant

WORTH is the bridge from jail to health

WORTH TeamWORTH is a program designed to help people who need medical care safely navigate hospitals, clinics, insurance, and pharmacies as they return back to the community after incarceration. We believe that a team approach is best to support people as they build up their confidence and their health, so our participants meet and work with both a Peer Support Specialist and Health Navigator starting while they are in custody, through their transition back into the community, and after they’re released. Each of the two roles have unique training and skills, and they work closely as a trio with the participant to address the individual’s health and wellness goals.

What each role does:

Through phone calls and visits, the Health Navigator-

  • Gets to know the participant and starts building a meaningful relationship
  • Works with the participant to identify their health goals and the barriers to reaching those goals the participant feels are important to address and what their experience has been like with the medical system and previous doctors. 
  • Together with the participant, talks through what medical conditions or symptoms they are experiencing, goes through what their experiences have been like with the doctors and hospitals in the past, and based on all that develops a plan of how to access medical care safely after release back to the community
  • Provides education around the basics of health literacy, insurance, and overall health

Through phone calls, texting, and visiting with the participant at our office or in the community, the Health Navigator-

  • Assists participants with finding and scheduling appointments with doctors that the participant wants to see
  • Assists with applying for or troubleshooting Medicaid applications
  • Checks in about how the participant is feeling about their care plan and doctors, supporting the participant in advocating for themselves if needed
  • Helps the participant coordinate their care by:
    • Tracking what follow-up care is needed and when
    • Reminding people about upcoming appointments
    • Medication refills
    • Communicating with pharmacies and clinics about paperwork or referrals that are needed by insurance
    • Attends medical appointments with a participant if requested
  • Continues providing education around the basics of health literacy, insurance, and overall health

Through phone calls and visits, the Peer Support Specialist-

  • Gets to know the participant and starts building a meaningful relationship
  • Listens, provides encouragement, validation, and empowerment
  • Using motivational interviewing, brainstorms with the participant to start planning for their transition and creating a post-release plan
  • Provides intentional guidance through the anxiety and unknowns of being released

Through phone calls, texting, and visiting with the participant at our office in the community, the Peer Support Specialist-

  • Provides intentional guidance through the anxiety and unknowns of being released
  • Shares known community resources
  • Uses motivational interviewing to problem solve and brainstorm solutions to barriers to the participant’s health goals
  • Through role modeling and encouragement, empowers the participant to feel confident in advocating for themselves
  • Educates the participant about their rights and how to navigate the world with a criminal history
  • Attends medical and community appointments with the participant if requested

School of Medicine

CU Anschutz

Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place

Campus Box C290

Aurora, CO 80045

303.724.5375

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