RESOURCES

Health Equity Statement

Justice, Healing & Health for All

Supplemental Resource  |  Justice-Involved Red Ribbon Week

Health equity for all cannot be achieved until we begin to heal the deep and lasting impacts of violence — systemic, interpersonal, and structural — on individuals and communities.

What Health Equity Means in This Context

Health equity means that every person — regardless of their race, income, zip code, criminal record, or past — has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. For justice-involved populations, this means:

•     Access to quality mental health care and substance use treatment

•     Harm reduction services without shame or judgment

•     Trauma-informed care that acknowledges the role of systemic injustice

•     Family support and connection during and after incarceration

•     Reentry resources that address housing, employment, and health simultaneously

The Intersection of Justice & Health

Justice involvement and poor health outcomes are deeply intertwined. Incarceration often concentrates people who have experienced significant health inequities — including histories of trauma, untreated mental illness, and substance use disorders that developed as survival responses to poverty, violence, and racism.

Healing these individuals is not just a moral imperative — it is a public health strategy. When justice-involved individuals receive quality care and support, communities become safer and healthier for everyone.

Our Commitment

Justice-Involved Red Ribbon Week is one small step toward health equity in correctional settings. By bringing education, connection, and hope into jails, prisons, and reentry programs, we affirm that every person — regardless of where they are — deserves access to healing.

“Health equity isn’t achieved in a single week. But every week we choose to show up for justice-involved individuals, we get closer.”

Social Media Quotes

Quick Posts for Awareness & Advocacy

Supplemental Resource  |  Justice-Involved Red Ribbon Week

Use these short, powerful quotes on social media, in newsletters, or posted inside your facility during Red Ribbon Week.

Campaign Quotes

“Red Ribbon Week isn’t just for schools. It’s for EVERYONE — including those behind the walls. Let’s bring hope, healing, and recovery to the justice-involved.”

“Justice-Involved Red Ribbon Week: Because recovery doesn’t stop at the gates.” #Hope #Healing #Recovery

“Addiction doesn’t end at incarceration. Neither should prevention, support, or recovery. This Red Ribbon Week, let’s remember our justice-involved community.”

“You are not your charges. You are not your worst day. You are still becoming. And you deserve support.”

“Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in connection — and connection can happen anywhere, even inside.”

“Every red ribbon worn inside a correctional facility says: We haven’t forgotten you. We believe in your healing.”

These quotes can be used freely for social media, newsletters, posters, or internal communications. Please include the attribution: Justice-Involved Red Ribbon Week

“Red Ribbon Week® is a registered trademark of the National Family Partnership. This toolkit is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Family Partnership.”

🔴  Your voice is part of this movement. Use it.