Hundreds of inmates flooded the Lower Yard and gym for the ninth annual San Quentin TRUST Health Fair, lining up to learn how to live healthy lives in prison.
Inmates received testing for blood pressure and cholesterol, education on diabetes and nutrition, chiropractic services, and classes in Tai Chi, yoga and Qi Gong.
“The Health Fair began with just ten volunteers; today there are a hundred and eighty-three,” said Dr. Arnold Chavez, Ed.D., an Alameda County Public Health Department official.
The event was sponsored by the inmate self-help activity group Teaching Responsibility Utilizing Sociological Training (TRUST). Major contributions were provided by Elena Tootell, the prison’s chief medical officer, and Bay Area health care providers.
One of the most well-attended booths in the gym was run by San Quentin’s dental services, which offered information on oral hygiene, sign-up sheets for dental exams, and — the most popular perk — a free toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss
“A lot of people are ignoring their dental health,” said Amir Zia, a San Quentin dental hygienist. “Dental disease can affect a person’s systemic health.”
The dental booth “helped me out a lot,” said Donte Walker, a 20-something inmate as he held his new toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss.
The chiropractor station was also popular. The credo of the chiropractic profession, said chiropractor volunteer Ian Davis said, is “to give, to love, to serve just for the sake of giving, loving and caring, without the expectation of anything in return.”
“This is one of the most peaceful missions we do,” said Davis, who has participated in the Health Fair for the past three years.
First-time volunteer Adam Tedler, a chiropractor from Atlanta, Ga., said he didn’t know what to expect but found the experience “awesome” and full of “positive energy.”
Inmate Ed Ballenger said the long wait in line would be worth it. “I remember a back adjustment I had a couple of years ago; it was great,” he said.
Tai chi instructor Bob Franklin said, “The movements in tai chi are designed to work on the internal organs. The exercises help us remember how to use the body correctly.”
Dr. Tootell and prisoner Clinton Martin signed up inmates to a 16-week class in diabetes management. Participants are given electronic monitors to track their blood sugar level, which they can keep as long as they are housed at San Quentin.
Dr. Tootell said she is also seeking to hire a case manager to administer a program that will identify inmates who need follow-up medical treatment or clinical care.
Patient advocate Raney Dixon, R.N., lectured on the importance of having an advanced directive in place for inmates in case of medical complications. Advanced directives give doctors specific instructions in case an inmate is incapacitated or comatose and a care-giving decision has to be made.
Dixon said she was hired because of the Brown v. Plata court decision in 2004. She said there have been great improvements in the inmate health care; however, there is room to grow as long as people continue to suffer unnecessarily.
Transitional case manager Naomi Prochovnick supervised a Centerforce booth, providing inmates with pamphlets about hepatitis, HIV and AIDS.
Prochovnick has worked for Centerforce for two years. She said that the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) “would be a fabulous thing.” However, she said, “California is ahead of the game” with programs such as Healthy San Francisco and Healthy Pact in Alameda.
Centerforce provided medical referral forms for prisoners scheduled to be released within the next several months. The Affordable Health Care Act will provide health services to those coming out of prison who would otherwise be left out of the system. “Hopefully, it will make it easier to extend health care services,” said Dr. Jonas Hines of the University California at San Francisco and San Francisco General Hospital.
Dr. Emily Hurstack said doctors from UCSF came to the Health Fair because they have an “interest in working with patients who historically do not have access to health care.”
Inmate William Blanchard, visiting his first Health Fair, said he didn’t mind the long lines because his “health is worth it.”
Inmate David Jenkins said, “Everybody should want to stand in line for their health.”
Axel and Claudia Debus lectured inmates about the benefits of meditation and controlled breathing techniques, noting that they could provide an alternative response to potentially explosive situations. “When someone gets into your face, it allows a different reaction than fight or flight,” said Claudia.
Often people think they are too busy to practice meditation, said Axel. But, “inside prison, people have an opportunity to develop themselves.” If they adopt a practice of meditation and stress reduction techniques, a person will usually “take on a new attitude on things,” he added.
Another volunteer, Salamah Locks, a recently retired Navy commander, was visiting San Quentin for the first time. “It won’t be my last,” she said. “I’m more than happy to share my skill and knowledge.”
A local resident and doctor of philosophy student, Locks came in with the Black Nurses Association, a group that is dedicated to helping others. Locks noted, “Prison is not a healthy environment for longevity,” adding, “I’m very much impressed with the TRUST Fellows.”
Correctional Officer Chattman said it first seemed like “controlled chaos” as nearly the whole mainline population turned out for the event. The popularity of the annual fair created a bigger security concern for correctional staff this year due to the influx of new prisoners from other prisons.
Some officers perceive the Health Fair as something “above and beyond” what is ordinarily proscribed for prisoners, Chattman explained, but “if the inmate learns something about taking care of themselves, it benefits the whole system, even the COs.”
One of the highlights of the event was presentation of Giraffe Awards to three community volunteers: Kathleen Jackson of TRUST, Leslie Schoenfeld of Healthcare Frontier and Mildred Crear of the Bay Area Black Nurses.
“Kathleen sees the beauty in every living soul,” Chavez said as he handed the crystal plaque engraved with a giraffe.
“It’s the only time in my life, I’m tall,” said Jackson.
Chavez explained the award analogizes the advantage of being a giraffe:
The giraffe has the largest heart of all land animals. It is a caring animal.
The giraffe has never been on the endangered species list.
The giraffe has every color in the rainbow in its hide — reflective of every culture.
If a giraffe were put in a box with other animals, its head would stick outside the box. So, the giraffe can think outside of the box.
The tallness of the giraffe enables it to see afar — giving it the ability to plan into the future.
The giraffe is a good fighter. If attacked, the stronger animals form a circle to protect the weakest.
