Community Connections: An Evaluation of an Innovative Reentry Intervention with HIV Positive Former State Prisoners

This presentation reports on an evaluation of 'Community Connections,' a pilot intervention conducted by Georgia State University, funded by the Bureau of Justice Affairs. This intervention provides supplemental case management and peer guidance to HIV+ former Georgia state prisoners reentering the Atlanta area. ‘Community Connections' is designed to bridge the gap between prison-based discharge planning services such as the Pre-Release Planning Program within the Georgia Department of Corrections, and medical case management and social services provided by Ryan White clinics. ‘Community Connections' identifies the unmet needs of reentrants and provides linkages to community-based organizations chartered to meet those needs for housing, substance abuse treatment, education, medical services and social support. Furthermore, ‘Community Connections' pairs Participants with Peer Guides who have knowledge of corrections, HIV, addiction, and mentoring, and serve as social support for Participants in the first year after their release. Participants who meet program standards are incentivized with the provision of monthly rapid transit cards and cell phones. This program evaluation is based on in-depth qualitative, semi-structured interviews with Participants and Peer Guides, as well as thorough analysis of Peer Guide monthly logs and monthly staff assessments of each Participant-Peer Guide pairing. Results suggest that the additional case management and peer guidance coordinated through ‘Community Connections' were greatly appreciated and were critical to a successful reentry experience for most program participants. However, Participants observe that stable housing and jobs/income, beyond the scope of this intervention, are the most critical elements in their successful reentry.