RCPeer: A Mobile Tool For Peer Support Of Returning Citizens

PROJECT SUMMARY Overinmates are released from federal and state prisons every year in the US and face the greatest risk of death related to cardiovascular diseaseCVDwithin the first few weeks of releaseOur proposed innovationRCPeeris a novel mobile application system that will be designed to address the unique and pressing needs of returning citizensRCsas they transition back into the communityRCPeer will be designed to directly support reentry efforts led by peer specialists or peers individuals who share characteristics with the marginalized populations they servesuch as incarceration experienceFollowing a community based framework of care tailored to a disenfranchised populationRCPeer will promote RC linkage to and engagement in care by allowing the peer and RC to participate in collaborativepersonalized action planning and enabling non clinically trained peers to safely assess CVD risks using an evidence based risk assessment toolThe unique and powerful combination of these peer guided mobile tools will allow for the prioritization of care and linkage for those at highest risk of CVD and create an opportunity for continued conversations and personalized actionsThe goal of this Phase I SBIR is to design a prototype of RCPeer and demonstrate its feasibility and acceptability with justice involved veteransa subpopulation of RCs with a particularly high risk of CVDWe will accomplish this goal using a user centered design framework following three specific aimsIn Aimwe will interview potential end users up toveteran RCs andpeers and generate a user informed assessment of key aspects of the RCPeer prototypeIn Aimwe will build and refine a working prototype using guided walkthrough interviews performed with RCsNand peersNFinallyin Aimwe will assess the acceptability of RCPeer through usability testing conducted with RCsNand peersNResults from Phase I will inform a potential Phase II project to evaluate the effectiveness of RCPeer on critical peer management and health outcomesincluding CVD risk factorshypertensioncholesterolemotional well beingquality of lifeincreased access to care and improvement in self efficacyFuture work will determine how RCPeer can be further enhanced to reinforce the relationship between peers and veteran as well as non veteran RCs they serve across a variety of program settings PROJECT NARRATIVE Inmates released from federal and state prisons face one of the greatest risks of death due to cardiovascular diseaseCVDduring the period in which they must reintegrate into the community after years of incarcerationIn this Phase I SBIRwe propose a novel mobile applicationRCPeerfor returning citizens and the peer specialists who play a vital supportive role during this challenging timeThrough RCPeerpeers will be able to screen for and prioritize care for those who are at highest risk of CVD and continue to engage returning citizens in collaborative action planning