MCRC Member Highlight: Aspire Indiana Health

The strength of the Marion County Reentry Coalition (MCRC) lies in its members. Their years of dedication and support have shaped MCRC into the vibrant, collaborative coalition it is today. It’s time to shine a spotlight on the organizations and individuals who make it all possible. We're excited to kick off our blog series highlighting Aspire Indiana Health and what being part of this coalition means to them.

Can you tell us about your organization's role in supporting individuals who are re-entering the community?

For the past 50 years, Aspire Indiana Health has been helping fellow Hoosiers from every walk of life to gain access to healthcare. It is the goal of Aspire to help people experience an improved quality of life. We do this by helping folks address their physical and mental health as well as housing and employment challenges. We believe that every life has value. Everyone deserves access to quality, fully integrated “whole health” care regardless of who you are, where you come from, or your socioeconomic status.

Reentering the community after incarceration is challenging. We believe that getting the care and support that you need should not be an additional challenge. We offer same-day access for mental health assessments, and in Marion County, we also offer same-day access for medical care. Additionally, all of our services, including pharmacy, are available at each of our health centers. No more driving from place to place. It is a one-stop shop.

Reentering the community has many moving parts. There are different requirements to meet and many places to go. All this can make taking care of yourself really difficult. However, taking care of yourself is equally important. Aspire Indiana Health strives to make the process simple and straightforward. 

How does being part of the MCRC align with or support your organization’s mission?

Being a part of the MCRC aligns with Aspire’s mission in many ways. We believe that everyone deserves access to good quality healthcare in a bright professional setting. It is our mission to engage with people who don’t believe that they can have good quality healthcare. Being a part of the MCRC helps us stay up to date on all of the challenges that reentering people face. Being informed helps us better understand the needs of reentering people and do what we can to help.

Can you share an example of how MCRC membership has enabled you to better serve individuals in reentry?

Over the years, MCRC and its partners have offered opportunities for reentering people to get connected to resources. Aspire has been able to connect folks with healthcare providers, psychiatric care, substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health support, as well as supported employment and housing. 

Nothing will do a better job of showing how Aspire can help people to reach their best quality of life than Milo’s story. Milo was a person reentering the community after years in an Indiana State Correctional Facility. It is a story of struggle and challenges, but it is a story of HOPE. Click here to watch Milo's Story.

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Special thanks to Mary Giesel, Community Engagement and Outreach Manager at Aspire, for sharing this story as part of our MCRC Member Highlight series.