Register here (encouraged but not required)
Join a real talk session where women share their pregnancy and healthcare stories from behind bars in a safe, supportive space.
StrongStart Central invites women who experienced pregnancy while incarcerated to join us for a conversation about their experience. Your experience can help shape better care for mothers and babies. StrongStart Central, a partnership with HCET and Transitional Healthcare Correctional Services (THCS) supported by the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, invites women who experienced pregnancy while incarcerated in a county jail to join us for a conversation about their experiences. This focus group is an opportunity to share your experiences, perspectives, and ideas about pregnancy and healthcare while incarcerated. We want to better understand what worked, what challenges women faced, what support was available, and what was missing. The information shared will help StrongStart Central identify ways to improve maternal and infant health outcomes for women impacted by the justice system and inform future programs, resources, and services.
Who Should Attend? This focus group is intended for women who:
- Were pregnant while incarcerated in a county jail
- Have personal experience with pregnancy while involved with the justice system
- Have been impacted by the justice system
- Are willing to share their experiences and perspectives to help improve services for other women and families
You do not need to have a specific experience or answer to participate. We want to hear your perspective.
What to Expect: The focus group will be a guided conversation led by StrongStart Central facilitators. Participants will have an opportunity to discuss their experiences and provide feedback in a supportive group setting. The conversation will focus on topics such as:
- Access to prenatal and pregnancy-related healthcare
- Experiences receiving care while incarcerated
- Communication with healthcare and correctional staff
- Support during pregnancy and after delivery
- Challenges faced by pregnant women in county jails
- Ideas for improving care and outcomes for women and infants
Your voice matters. What you experienced can help us understand what women need and how communities can provide better support.