• Creating an enabling environment to improve access and utilization of HIV/AIDS care in incarcerated : A case study from Southeastern PA

The burden of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in incarcerated populations is disproportionately high as compared to general population. Furthermore, in marginalized urban communities where the prevalence of HIV/AIDS as well as associated risk factors are already high, high recidivism in incarcerated populations further augment the reservoir of circulating HIV/AIDS virus and provide conducive grounds for the virus to infect anew. However, paradoxically, the clustering of this otherwise hard to reach high risk group in jail and prison settings extends a unique opportunity to successfully implement interventions to prevent, diagnose and treat HIV infection.

AIDS Care Group (ACG) from Chester, PA is one of the ten HRSA, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) sites implementing this initiative. We are serving presently five county jails in SE Pennsylvania. Capitalizing upon its decade long experience of community-oriented and participatory approach, ACG has identified housing, transportation, food, clothing, cultural sensitivity and respect as key Client needs and has adopted a model of care that caters to these identified client needs.

The presentation will discuss salient features of our service delivery model, key support services that are associated with longevity and compliance in our target population, and most importantly improved programmatic outputs attributable to it.