1530 St. Claire Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

 

Ann Avery, MD-Principal Investigator

Project Summary

 

 

Care Alliance proposes to identify HIV-infected individuals in the County and City jails through pre-release testing, counseling and case management; to provide health care services to those already diagnosed with HIV and in the jail system; to ensure linkages to care following release from jail; and to provide support services upon release from the correctional facilities and entrance back into the community.

2. Target Populations

 

Care Alliance plans to target inmates that are known to be HIV-positive and test those pre-release inmates who are within the two jails at the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center (CCCC). The targeted populations include substance abusers, commercial sex workers, and other individuals being held and/or pre-released from County and City jails.

3. Goals and Objectives: Care Alliance has established the following goals and objectives:

Goal: Increase access to HIV Testing and Counseling in County and City jail settings.

Objectives: Conduct education sessions with inmates at the County and City jails; provide HIV testing and counseling during pre-release to individuals who consent to testing; provide sensitive, culturally competent, and gender specific appropriate services to the targeted jail populations.

Goal: Provide a multidisciplinary, comprehensive continuum of primary medical care and early intervention services, while HIV-positive inmates achieve an optimal level of functioning.

Objectives: Provide a comprehensive continuum of primary medical care to HIV-positive individuals who enter the jail system; provide client-centered case management to 100% of HIV clients receiving medical care through the project period; ensure provision of continuous care to HIV-positive inmates post release; provide short-term mental health counseling and substance abuse counseling for all HIV clients who are referred by a provider, with referral for long-term treatment as needed.

Goal: Develop a data and tracking system to measure outcomes in a meaningful way.

Objectives: Conduct a minimum of two chart audits a year; enhance the utilization of current CAREWARE software; pilot the use of the Chronic Care Model to address the needs of the HIV-positive clients.

Goal: Create a system of service delivery that is client-centered and sensitive to gender, cultural diversity, and other individual issues.

Objectives: Receive feedback from HIV-positive individuals who have been previously incarcerated and have been provided the proposed services; facilitate the addition of individuals with a history of incarceration onto the HIV-positive Consumer Advisory Board; administer satisfaction surveys to all individuals who received services from the proposed program upon release from the correctional facility. All staff will participate in a minimum of 1 training session on cultural competency.