Center for Health Justice programs are based on a Peer Education model. Many of our staff that works inside correctional facilities have previous incarceration experience themselves. Additionally, many of our agency staff is comprised of persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Center for Health Justice HIV Prevention Programs
Take Charge-Stay Safe
The “Take Charge-Stay Safe” program provides comprehensive risk-reduction counseling, education, and support services to inmates. This innovative program targets gay, bi-sexual, and transgender males housed in the K-11 dorms -- a voluntary segregation unit at Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) in Downtown LA -- as well as a small number of female inmates housed at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, CA. “Take Charge-Stay Safe” consists of three linked interventions -- Outreach, Group-level Education, and One-on-One risk reduction counseling -- that reach a combined total of over 1000 inmates per year.
“HealthFirst” Condom Distribution Program
As a component of our prevention services, Center for Health Justice administers a highly successful condom distribution program in the K-11 Unit -- a voluntary segregation unit at Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) in Downtown LA. Center for Health Justice began this program in 2001, in response to increasing HIV infection rates among gay, bi-sexual, and transgender (male to female) persons entering and exiting the Los Angeles County Jail system. Although sexual activity inside the jail setting is against the law, possession of a condom is not. Center for Health Justice staff distributes one condom per inmate per week in the K-11 dorms along with important verbal educational messages outlining the facts about HIV transmission and proper use of latex condoms. Over 11,000 condoms have been distributed since the program's inception without incident.
The PRHP Project (Pre-Release Health Preparedness)
The Pre-Release Health Preparedness (PRHP) Project (pronounced as prep) provides HIV education and individual-level counseling to heterosexual males in the inmate general population as well as female inmates at Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF).
HIV 101 classes are provided through the PRHP Project for general population males at the Pitchess Detention Facility in the northern region of Los Angeles County. The classes focus on basic information about HIV, modes of transmission, methods of protection, and facts about testing and treatment. As a result of participating in the PHRP Project, a large number of general population males have opted to take an HIV test while incarcerated.
With female inmates, the HIV 101 classes are held in collaboration with our “Women Moving Ahead” program, and the HIV 101 session counts as the first part of the WMA workshop series. The PRHP Project also provides pre-release counseling and referrals to HIV testing inside the jails and upon release. During individual sessions inmates are counseled about post-release plans and work with a counselor to develop a concrete plan of action once they are released from jail. Counseling also includes discussion of HIV risk reduction methods and encouragement to adopt healthier behaviors upon their return to the community.
