Frequently Asked Questions

A peer is someone you are equal to in a given respect (e.g., age, qualifications, experiences) A peer at FIPS is someone who has also experienced incarceration, its traumatic effects, and has returned home.  

PICS is a set of symptoms that are present in many currently and formerly incarcerated people, caused by prolonged periods of incarceration, the trauma that accompanies it, and little or no access to opportunities for rehabilitation. These symptoms can develop in people who have previous mental health conditions, as well as those with no signs of mental instability prior to incarceration.  While many people see PICS as the same as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), they are not. PICS is unique to those who have been incarcerated. There are five major clusters of symptoms associated with PICS, which you will learn more about in the group. 

Help and support from people with similar lived experiences to one's own, in our case, incarceration. All peer support groups function differently,  but FIPS is a conversation based group. At FIPS, our lead facilitator introduces the topic for a given meeting and then asks the group for input. We sit in a circle to encourage everyone to participate, and we do not exclude anyone who is interested in the group.

Absolutely. When we have a family member who is incarcerated, we’re basically incarcerated too. Please join us to share your perspective. 

Yes, allies are welcome. 

Nope, all genders are welcome!