IOI volunteers teach secular and science-based mindfulness practices, such as meditation, walking meditation and yoga, to the incarcerated, people transitioning from homelessness, and returning citizens. These populations experience a high rate of trauma, addiction and related health disorders but also have limited access to medical services. 

Mindfulness skills help people focus their attention on their experience in the present moment in an accepting way rather than dwelling on the past or future. Extensive research suggests that mindfulness-based interventions are an effective clinical treatment for anxiety, depression, and stress. In particular, mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to be effective in prisons for mitigating trauma and addiction.

Mindfulness-based interventions can be provided at a relatively low cost compared to other treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and so can be suitable for non-medical institutions such as prisons and residences for people transitioning from homelessness.