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Sofia Kennedy, MPH, Abt Associates Inc, 55 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, 617-349-2797, sofia_kennedy@abtassoc.com, Theodore Hammett, PhD, Abt Associates, Inc, 55 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, and Kimberly Jacob Arriola, MPH, PhD, Behavioral Sciences & Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Room 510, Atlanta, GA 30322.
Issues: Rates of HIV are up to five times higher among jail and prison inmates than in the total US population. Inmates have a legal right to health care and many with HIV initiate treatment while incarcerated.
Description: The CDC/HRSA Corrections Demonstration Project (CDP) funds seven states to implement discharge planning programs for jail/prison inmates that connect clients to key community services postrelease. Prerelease, case managers assess client needs and make referrals and appointments to community services, postrelease they provide intensive case management including meeting clients at the facility gate and escorting them to appointments. Key services are HIV, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and benefits, housing and employment.
Lessons learned: 4202 clients were served by the CDP during January 2001-March 2003, 697 participated in an evaluation, 239 have received services 30 days after release. Preliminary data show 93% received some type of discharge planning and 67-100% that received services after release had an appointment set up for them prior to release. The evaluation is ongoing.
Recommendations: 1. Corrections, public health and HIV providers should implement discharge planning programs. 2. Ryan White Planning Councils should identify incarcerated and released individuals as priority populations. 3. These models can also aid HIV-negative inmates in transition.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Correctional Institutions, HIV/AIDS
Related Web page: abtassociates.com
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.