Kelli Canada, a researcher and social worker at the University of Missouri, is currently working to improve conditions in prisons across Missouri through a community-engaged research model. Her team received a $2.8 million grant for a five-year project aimed at transforming living and working conditions in four Missouri prisons.
Canada’s project focused on improving staff training, restructuring prisons, developing skills, and creating community connections. She emphasized the importance of providing services for those with serious mental illnesses to support their growth and happiness. By collaborating with staff and inmates on innovation advisory groups, they were able to implement changes that improved conditions for everyone involved.
Canada’s ultimate goal is to help inmates successfully re-enter society with the necessary resources to thrive in the long term. She believes that by enhancing rehabilitation opportunities for inmates, it can benefit not only the inmates but also those who work or volunteer in the prisons, such as chaplains and teachers. Through her work, she aims to create a positive impact on incarcerated individuals so they can lead fulfilling lives and become valuable members of society.
