In the fall of 2007, Care Alliance was awarded a grant from HRSA called Special Project of National Significance (SPNS). This four year grant was awarded to ten (10) sites nationally and focuses on establishing and evaluating HIV testing and linkage programs for incarcerated individuals. At Care Alliance, this program is called ATLAS: Assess, Test, Link: Achieve Success.
Currently, the program is providing HIV testing to male and female inmates as part of their intake process at the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center. The program also provides linkages of care through case management services including release planning and community follow up for all HIV positive inmates, whether identified by the testing program or were positive prior to admission.
Our program staff meets with HIV positive inmates while incarcerated, assesses their needs, and assists the inmate in setting up medical care and social services prior to release to meet all identified needs. Once the inmate is released, staff will follow the inmate for one year post release to evaluate the inmate's access, use, and retention in medical care and social services. The ATLAS program will participate in evaluation processes with the other sites that have been awarded the SPNS grant.
For more information about the ATLAS program, please contact Rachel Ciomcia, Project Coordinator at (216)619-5571 x 425 or by e-mail.
