Women Moving Ahead
“Women Moving Ahead” (WMA) is a self-empowerment program consisting of a four-part workshop series targeting women at high sexual risk in the correctional setting, along with individual counseling and post-release support services. The curriculum for WMA has four components: HIV information, Self-Esteem Development, Assertive Communication Skills Building, and Empowerment. Classes are open to all women, with a focus on African American and Latina inmates.
After completing the WMA program, participants receive pre-release transitional planning assistance and supportive counseling through our Pre-Release Health Preparedness (PRHP) Project. We offer additional supportive services to clients after their release to encourage and support the healthy lifestyle changes they have adopted by participating in the WMA and PRHP program.
The Lawrence Project - (HIV Treatment Education)
The Lawrence Project is named after a LA County STD Programs administrator who helped initiate the agency’s services inside the LA County Jails and demonstrates our close working relationship with correctional facility officers and personnel.
The Lawrence Project provides comprehensive HIV Treatment Education classes geared to the needs of the HIV-infected incarcerated community. In an effort to maintain confidentiality of our HIV+ clients, classes are open to all inmates, regardless of HIV status. We have found that frequently HIV-negative partners of persons with HIV and inmates with infected family members also attend our class in order to gain valuable knowledge to help their loved ones cope better with HIV disease.
The central element of the Lawrence Project is a class that covers the immune system, HIV pathogenesis, virus life cycle, disease management and intervention including: CD4 and Viral Load testing, antiretroviral therapy, adherence, side effect management, and drug resistance issues, as well as health maintenance and well-being.
HIV positive clients also receive individual-level HIV treatment education counseling. During these sessions a Center for Health Justice Treatment Advocate conducts an intensive assessment of the client's educational needs in relation to HIV infection, and may assist with securing referrals for any immediate needs--usually in relation to medical care, or dietary issues while incarcerated. A client-centered service plan is developed depending on the individual's needs, and the client and advocate begin working to obtain specific mutually agreed upon educational objectives. The Treatment Advocate meets with the client for several sessions over the period of time of incarceration, and can assist with obtaining outside referrals to medical care and social services that will prove useful upon release.
