Transformative Justice Healthy Lifestyles Program

Founded in 2022 by Dr. Ida Dickie, a forensic psychologist with over 25 years of experience, the Transformative Justice Healthy Lifestyles Program (TJHLP) promotes a justice response centered on mental health, accountability, resilience, and safety for all those impacted by violence.  The program is designed around the premise that violence prevention requires more than surveillance, punishment, or crisis response. Its approach would be summarized by this quote from an indigenous artist: “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”  Research shows that people with violent histories — especially those in the justice system — have significantly higher rates of mental health problems and trauma exposure than the general population. In U.S. prisons, about 43% of state inmates and 44% of jail inmates have a diagnosed mental disorder Prison Policy Initiative. In federal prisons, 66% report not receiving any mental health care while incarcerated.

The TJHLP offers psychological treatment developed by Dr. Dickie called the Healthy Lifestyle program (HLP).  HLP has been offered since 2009 in the Louisville community in various settings to over 400 individuals with mental health and violence problems between the ages of 70.  A recent review indicates that a 2-year HLP program delivered in a maximum-security prison, Luther Luckett Correctional Center, has a 70% success rate for those who completed it and were released. It is expected that a community residential version of the program will assist with alternatives to incarceration and prevention of further violence in the Louisville community. 

TJHLP's vision is to develop a Transformative Living community (TLC) where healthy lifestyles and mental health programs can be offered in a structured residential setting. The TLC will serve as an intermediate level of care between incarceration or hospitalization and independent community living. 

WHY INVEST IN THE TRANSFORMATIVE LIVING COMMUNITY

Your donation will be an investment in RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE CONNECTED AND THAT INVESTING IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SUCCESS IS AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR SUCCESS. Building human capital and helping individuals transform their lives and heal from the trauma and mental health difficulties that have contributed to violence WILL HELP OUR COMMUNITY INCREASE ITS OVERALL WELL-BEING.   

Please consider donating to the TLC to help secure a residential setting to develop the Transformative Living Community.