Breaking the Cycle: Mississippi Expands Mental Health Support for Women in Prisons

New Peer Support Re-Entry Program Launches in March 2025 During National Criminal Justice Month

 

The Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF), pictured above, was established in 1986 and built on 171 acres in Pearl in Rankin County. The pilot for the Mississippi Transformation Transfer Initiative Grant will operate at CMCF and Delta Correctional Facility, which is located in Greenwood, MS.

The Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF), pictured above, was established in 1986 and built on 171 acres in Pearl in Rankin County. The pilot for the Mississippi Transformation Transfer Initiative Grant will operate at CMCF and Delta Correctional Facility, which is located in Greenwood, MS.

Jackson, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) is announcing a transformative initiative to address mental health challenges and high recidivism rates among women in the state’s prison system. Through the Mississippi Transformation Transfer Initiative (TTI) Grant, DMH will implement a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) Re-entry Coordination Program, prioritizing women with serious mental illness (SMI), especially parenting mothers, as they transition back into their communities.

Mississippi has the highest incarceration rate in the nation, incarcerating 1,020 individuals per 100,000 citizens, nearly twice the national average. In 2022, 1,595 women were under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional authorities in Mississippi according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and many experienced mental health challenges amplified by the trauma and systemic barriers from being imprisoned. Currently, 50% of women released in Mississippi reoffend within their first year, underscoring the need for targeted mental health and re-entry support. “One of the major things that’s going to be a part of the major action recovery plan is identifying who has major mental health concerns that need to be addressed,” stated Danny Blanton, who is currently the project coordinator over the Mississippi Transformation Transfer Initiative. “We’re going to try and identify those who are a year out from their parole hearing to be assessed for any concerns that they may need to be treated for.”

Through this initiative, Certified Peer Support Specialists — individuals with lived experience in recovery and the justice system — will provide mentorship, support and vital resources to help women successfully reintegrate into society.

 

How the Program Works

 

The pilot will operate at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF) and Delta Correctional Facility, which are both correctional facilities for women. Each facility will have a CPSS Re-entry Coordinator and CPSS-trained volunteers who will:

  • Develop personalized Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP) for participants before release.
  • Assist in securing housing, employment, and healthcare services.
  • Provide peer mentoring and coping strategies for successful reintegration.
  • Connect participants to Community Mental Health Centers for continued care.
  • Oversee training of Forensic Peer Support Specialists (F-CPSS), empowering incarcerated women to support one another.

Additionally, the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Mississippi (NAMI) will facilitate peer-led support groups for women post-release, offering emotional support, accountability, and a sense of community.

 

Goals & Impact

 

DMH has outlined strategic and measurable goals to track the program’s success in reducing recidivism and improving mental health progress, which are listed below.

  • Lower recidivism rates to 20% or less among participants within one year.
  • At least 75% of participants to engage in peer support services.
  • 80% complete a WRAP within 30 days.
  • 85% are successfully connected to a mental health provider.
  • 75% continue mental health treatment beyond their first appointment.
  • 75% report feeling more connected to their communities within three months of release.

 

Funding & Long-Term Vision

 

This program is supported by $260,000 in TTI grant funding — which covers staffing, peer training, mental health resource kits and supports group facilitation. In addition, DMH aims to expand the program statewide by securing additional funding through grants, contracts, and partnerships with the Mississippi Department of Corrections, NAMI Mississippi and community-based mental health centers across the state.

“This initiative is about more than just re-entry,” says Wendy Bailey, Executive Director of DMH. “It’s about restoring hope, rebuilding lives, and ensuring every woman has the support she needs to succeed beyond the prison walls.”

For more information about this initiative, contact the Director of Peer Support and Recovery Sitaniel Wimberly at Sitaniel.wimberly@dmh.ms.gov, or the project coordinator Danny Blanton at Danny.blanton@dmh.ms.gov.