North Carolina DHHS Kody Kinsley (fourth from the right) alongside members of the NC FIT staff (Photo: Ahmed Jallow)
Anthony Ferrera gets emotional when he talks about how the FIT Wellness program has saved his life. About a year ago, Ferrera was grappling with severe mental and physical health issues while at Central Prison in Raleigh, before being transferred to Johnson County Detention Center to complete his four-month sentence.
After years of shuffling in and out of prison, Ferrera now has a stable life. He lives with his daughter, has a great relationship with his family, and has found a sense of purpose and belonging. The support he received from FIT Wellness has helped him rebuild his life and overcome the challenges of reentry, he said.
“They … gave me a sense of hope,” Ferrera said. “If it wasn’t for them, it would have been a hard road.”
FIT Wellness, part of the North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition Program (NC FIT), provides psychiatric and physical health care, as well as connections to community support services like housing and transportation, for individuals with mental illness reentering the community from prison. The program was highlighted on Tuesday during a panel discussion and tour hosted by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).