The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64376

Ronald Braithwaite, PhD, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Room 564, Atlanta, GA 30322, 404-727-1895, Rbraith@sph.emory.edu, 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, Theodore M. Hammett, PhD, Public Health Applications and Research, Abt Associates Inc., 55 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, Sofia Kennedy, MPH, Abt Associates, Inc, 55 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, and Alyssa G. Robillard, PhD, Behavioral Sciences and Health Education Department, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30084.

US jail and prison inmates carry a disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS as compared to the total US population. Many HIV-infected inmates are able to access quality HIV medical treatment and care during incarceration yet lack housing, employment, transportation, and monetary resources after release. As a result, HIV treatment and medication adherence may not be a high priority. The Corrections Demonstration Project was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration to support demonstration projects within correctional facilities and the community that develop comprehensive medical, mental health, and social services for HIV-infected inmates and those at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. Specifically, one city and six state departments of public health were funded to offer enhanced discharge planning and community case management services to inmates who are transitioning into the community. An Evaluation and Program Support was funded to oversee the design of a scientifically sound cross-site evaluation of these projects based on shared instruments. The quantitative evaluation was divided into two parts—aggregate data collection to measure the volume of services provided through all the program components and a longitudinal client-level evaluation of the discharge planning and community case management intervention only. The presentation will draw from client-level data collected from six of the state grantees to describe clients’ self-reported utilization of medical and mental health care services and alcohol and drug treatment during the first six months post-release as compared to their utilization of these services prior to incarceration.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the major elements of the discharge planning and community case management services that are funded under the Corrections Demonstration Project
• Articulate the evaluation design that is being used for conducting a cross-site evaluation of the seven demonstration projects.
• Assess the extend to which clients are successfully engaged in medical, mental health, and social services for the first six months post release.

Keywords: HRSA, Correctional Health Care

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.