PARTICIPATING PROJECTS

Georgia Department of Human Resources

Partners and Collaborators
Funding was provided to the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health, Prevention Services Branch. The program was administered by the Sexually Transmitted Disease section. The Georgia demonstration project system included prison, jail, and juvenile components that serve the Atlanta area, including Fulton and DeKalb counties. An adult program that included the Metro State Prison (a women’s facility in Atlanta) provided discharge planning and in-prison case management. In addition, the Fulton County Jail provided case management, disease screening, and staff training at the jail facility. The juvenile component included the Metro Regional Detention Center, which provided HIV prevention, disease screening, and staff training; the DeKalb County Juvenile Court provided HIV prevention services for youth.

The Georgia CDP (GCDP) also contracted with three CBOs to provide services to clients who were either incarcerated or released:

• AID Atlanta provided transitional planning and case management for Fulton County Jail inmates with HIV during and after incarceration. AID Atlanta’s Correctional Transition Program was designed to ensure that HIV-positive inmates received case management services and discharge planning to assist them with obtaining access to health care, medications, substance abuse treatment, and other community services prior to and after release. Outreach, Inc., was subcontracted through AID Atlanta to provide substance abuse counseling, education, and treatment referral for inmates at the Fulton County Jail. Counseling groups were held in conjunction with Fulton County Jail substance abuse and HIV education programs.
• The Wholistic Stress Control Institute provided HIV/AIDS and other STI prevention education to inmates at the Fulton County Jail, the Jimmy Helms Diversion Center, the Metro Transitional Center for Women, and the Metro Regional Youth Detention Center (MRYDC) and DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center.
• The Southeast AIDS Education and Training Center at Emory University provided training sessions and technical assistance for the CBOs involved in the CDP as well as medical staff and correctional staff at the Fulton County Jail and the MRYDC.

Model
The goal of the Georgia CDP was to improve health among incarcerated populations as related to HIV, STIs, TB, hepatitis, and substance abuse during incarceration and after release, using a range of primary health care and prevention strategies. The strategies centered on disease screening, treatment, and counseling; HIV and STI prevention education; case management, prevention case management, and discharge planning; and staff training and technical assistance. Participating correctional facilities also provided the following services:

• The Fulton County Jail participated in transitional planning and case management, STI screening, and prevention education projects.
• The MRYDC participated in chlamydia and gonorrhea screening and prevention for female youth. The center provides temporary secure care and supervision for youth who are charged with crimes or who have been found guilty of crimes and are awaiting disposition of their cases by a juvenile court.
• The DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center in Decatur and the Jimmy Helms Diversion Center participated in prevention education for male youth and adult men, respectively.
• The Metro Transitional Center for Women participated in the prevention education project, helping residents make the transition into the community using therapeutic counseling and social and employment skills training.

LESSONS LEARNED: Georgia Department of Human Resources The Georgia CDP divided its recommendations into four general dimensions: Project Design Establish theoretical, structural, and systematic integration of services prior to project implementation. Goals must be manageable and meaningful. Obtain “buy-in” from all affiliates and partners and ensure that agreements are in place to maximize continuity of care. Program Operations Establish operational protocols and tools for service delivery and test those protocols before project implementation. Establish clear definitions of the deliverables. Establish formal memoranda of understanding with all partners and facilities and regular means for communication and dissemination of information. Program Assessment and Evaluation Develop a complete and comprehensive evaluation plan that includes all measures, assessment instruments, data sources, collection methodologies, and evaluation questions before the start of the project. Program Sustainability Sustainability should be part of program design and a key program objective.