The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition took the opportunity to collaborate with the Bordelais Correctional Facility to host a ten-week program, “I.M.P.R.O.V.E,” with the aim of empowering inmates of the Bordelais Correctional Facility to make healthier choices and to embark on positive lifestyle choices upon reintegration into society.

The I.M.P.R.O.V.E program was designed to address the multifaceted needs of inmates with a holistic approach, aimed at improving their lives in the areas of social and life skills, behavior modification and overall well-being. This 10-week program included a series of sessions on healthy lifestyle, anger management, conflict resolution, trauma recovery, chronic disease management, substance abuse and misuse, nutrition and physical activity, to name a few.

Acting Program Officer of the Substance Abuse Advisory Council Secretariat Amelia Charles-Loctar expressed pleasure in supporting this initiative which is focused on equipping inmates with practical skills to address their rehabilitative and mental health needs. “The overall purpose is to ensure that each individual which enters the program and goes through the program has an improved self-awareness and to be able to appreciate themselves a lot more and also to be able to improve themselves, hence the term ‘IMPROVE.’ There are certain aspects to improve, that is their mindset, to improve their relationship, so to improve the holistic being so to improve their health.”

Chaplain and Officer at the Bordelais Correctional Facility Keith Smith spoke on the conceptualization of the rehabilitative program, ‘IMPROVE’ which focuses on the empowerment of inmates. “So the strategy was to provide some internal energy where the individual can identify with and as he makes steps of improvement, he will feel empowered. That is steps of development, steps of growth. Sometimes, we give inmates programs and meals, but there is one thing to have your body in a facility and to have your mind on your family, friends or community and so it was a strategic approach on my part to develop the IMPROVE program where I would capture the themes or concerns and the needs of the inmates we call residents.”

Assistant Director of Custodial at the Bordelais Correctional Facility Andrel Valcin congratulated and praised the inmates for completing the rehabilitative program, emphasizing personal growth