(BOP) - "Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions" encourages inmates at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Greenville, IL to take an active role in healthy living. This program teaches them how to manage their own health concerns including chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, and arthritis. The inmate participants learn about eating healthy, exercising, managing pain, coping with stress and anxiety, working with health care providers, medication management and planning for the future.
Tara White, a social worker at FCI Greenville, and two inmates with medical backgrounds, co-facilitated the first session. "Having inmates teach the program produces an environment of mutual support for them in the class setting," said White. "It gives the inmate facilitators the ability to share their experiences and knowledge about chronic conditions with their peers. Also, inmates teaching the program are provided an opportunity to act as mentors/peer support outside the classroom to motivate their peers to make positive changes in order to live a healthy life."
"I have already started the changes in my life from this course," said Antoinette Chenier, an inmate who completed the program. "I am eating [balanced meals], and practicing portion control. I am walking three miles a day and attending step classes. I am also making sure to check my blood pressure on a regular basis."