The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) STD/HIV Prevention Program has established a collaborative relationship with the Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC) and the Office of Women’s Justice (OWJ) to provide a comprehensive HIV/STD program for women remanded to the Sheriff’s Female Furlough Program (SFFP), an alternative day program for women that have been incarcerated at Cook County Jail (CCJ). STD and pregnancy screening occur routinely however; most do not receive their results. Few women receive individual HIV counseling and testing services.
CDPH will perform individual HIV client centered counseling and testing following a 6-session HIV prevention program provided by HBHC. HBHC has documented that a majority of the women request HIV counseling and testing following the group behavioral skill building and empowerment sessions. Prior to the individual counseling session, CDPH will collect STD and pregnancy results from Cook County Jail. The individual session following the group sessions will provide women with their previous test results, have an HIV test, and discuss HIV, STD, and pregnancy results. If STD or pregnancy testing did not occur at CCJ, the woman will be offered testing. Referrals to CDPH HIV Primary Care Clinics and STD/HIV Clinics will be made in if a woman is identified as HIV positive or requires STD treatment. Partner notification services will be conducted for those identified as HIV positive.
The results of the women’s HIV, STD, and pregnancy tests will be presented. Implications for comprehensive women’s HIV/STD services and recommendations for linking existing services will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe a comprehensive HIV and STD program in a correctional based setting. 2. Understand the importance of meeting the needs of this hard to reach population and providing services.
Keywords: Women's Health, Incarceration
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.