New Book Helps Justice-Involved Individuals Successfully Reenter Communities and Rebuild Their Lives

Advocates for Human Potential, Inc.’s Human Potential Press just published a new Wellness Recovery Action Plan® (WRAP®) book for people reentering communities after being incarcerated: Wellness Recovery Action Plan for Reentry: Moving Forward from Incarceration. This book is designed for individuals who are currently incarcerated, have been incarcerated in the past, or are dealing with other justice-related issues. It is available for preorder and will begin shipping — including to locked criminal justice facilities — in mid-December.

The National Reentry Resource Center estimates that at least 95% of people incarcerated in state prisons will be released back to their communities at some point, around 9 million people are released from jail each year, and more than a half-million individuals sentenced to state and federal prison are released to their communities annually. These individuals often need support, a new path for their lives, and help building a life free from new justice involvement. The new WRAP for Reentry is designed to address these issues.

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) certified peer specialist (CPS) program has had great success incorporating WRAP into its program.

The new book includes:

• An introduction with important framing information about what WRAP is and how it can support mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness pre- and post-release
• Personal stories in every chapter from people who have used the WRAP program during and after incarceration to help transform their lives and move forward
• A post-crisis plan for managing reentry after incarceration ends
• “Getting Out and Staying Out—Using WRAP to Prevent Future Incarceration,” a new chapter on building a life free from new justice involvement, beginning from the first few hours after release

Waynette D. Brock, CEO of the California-based nonprofit One New Heartbeat, Inc. and National Advanced Co-Facilitation Trainer at the Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery, has been using WRAP in groups for formerly incarcerated individuals over the past decade. She stated, “The group process is so important, because we, as formerly incarcerated people, are able to go in and give the hope people need to move forward with their lives. The majority of those we have served pre- and post- release over the last decade have not reoffended.” The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 83% of state prisoners released in 2005 across 30 states were arrested at least once in the 9 years following their release. One New Heartbeat reports that the recidivism rate among the 750 people who have attended its cofacilitated, evidence-based WRAP groups over the last 8 years is less than 15%–an 82% reduction over the national average. “It’s the whole group process that makes it work, and this new book enhances that process and amplifies its impact,” Brock said.

WRAP has been supporting justice-involved individuals for years. It is used around the world as a powerful process anyone can use to get well, stay well, and make their life the way they want it to be. Originally developed in 1997 by a group of people who were working to overcome their own mental health challenges, WRAP is now used extensively by people in all kinds of circumstances and by healthcare and mental health systems all over the world to address a variety of physical, mental health, and life issues.

WRAP for Reentry: Moving Forward from Incarceration is now available for preorder and will begin shipping in mid-December. All books ship direct from the publisher to minimize security concerns in locked facilities. Volume discounts are available. For more information, go to https://www.wrapandrecoverybooks.com/store/wrap-for-reentry.html.