Kimberly R. Jacob Arriola, PhD, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Room 510, Atlanta, GA 30322, 404-727-2600, kjacoba@sph.emory.edu and Kendall Moore, Chicago Department of Public Health, 530 E. 31st Street, 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60616.

Female jail inmates carry a disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS as compared to women in the general US population (DeGroot, 2000). Many HIV-infected jail detainees are able to access quality HIV medical treatment and care during incarceration yet lack housing, employment, transportation, and monetary resources both before and after release. As a result, HIV treatment and medication adherence may not be a high priority when these women return to the community. 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. Drawing from client-level data collected from three state grantees (Florida, Chicago, New York) using shared instruments, this presentation will provide an overview of clients’ health service utilization prior to incarceration, their current self-reported health status, and their own assessment of discharge planning needs once they are released to the community (N = 135). Findings have important implications for the development of coordinated systems of medical and mental health care between county jails and the community.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the barriers and facilitators of health care utilization among HIV+ female jail detainees prior to incarceration.
• Describe the demographic characteristics of HIV+ female jail detainees who were able to access medical and mental health services prior to incarceration.
• Explain the relationship between health care utilization prior to incarceration and current health status among HIV+ female jail detainees.
• Explain the relationship between health care utilization prior to incarceration and discharge planning needs among HIV+ female jail detainees.

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.