TY - JOUR
T1 - Providing HIV services for incarcerated and ex-offender populations
T2 - Perspectives of frontline staff
AU - Robillard, Alyssa G.
AU - Gallito-Zaparaniuk, Paige
AU - Braithwaite, Ronald
AU - Arriola, Kimberly Jacob
AU - Kennedy, Sofia
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors wish to thank all focus group participants and the community based organizations they represent as well as all members of the collaboration including the project directors, evaluators and technical assistance providers. Your experience, insight, and commitment are valuable and sincerely appreciated. Thanks also to Dr. Mary Gillmore of the Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, Arizona State University, and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. The authors acknowledge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration for the funding supporting this evaluation (grant 1H97HA0012602).
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Public health departments, correctional institutions, and community-based organizations (CBOs) are increasingly working together to improve and support the health of inmates returning to the community, especially those with HIV. CBOs, and particularly the staff of CBOs, are key in providing HIV services to transitioning inmates; however, little data are available to characterize these staff. The purpose of this qualitative assessment is to describe the experiences and motivations of frontline staff involved in HIV-related service delivery to inmates and ex-offenders participating in the CDC/HRSA Corrections Demonstration Project. Eight focus groups with a total of 64 participants were held during a National CBO Meeting with frontline staff. Content analysis focused on staff experiences, motivations, and definitions of client success. Staff draw on personal, educational, and professional experiences to do their jobs, and they are motivated by a desire to help clients. Individuals in social work with similar experiences may find a unique niche working with this population. In fact, individuals with a heightened sensitivity for inmates and ex-offenders may consider the fields of social work, nursing, counseling, community psychology, or public health to enhance their training and better serve this population. Additional findings emphasize the importance of acknowledging the small steps along the continuum of client success.
AB - Public health departments, correctional institutions, and community-based organizations (CBOs) are increasingly working together to improve and support the health of inmates returning to the community, especially those with HIV. CBOs, and particularly the staff of CBOs, are key in providing HIV services to transitioning inmates; however, little data are available to characterize these staff. The purpose of this qualitative assessment is to describe the experiences and motivations of frontline staff involved in HIV-related service delivery to inmates and ex-offenders participating in the CDC/HRSA Corrections Demonstration Project. Eight focus groups with a total of 64 participants were held during a National CBO Meeting with frontline staff. Content analysis focused on staff experiences, motivations, and definitions of client success. Staff draw on personal, educational, and professional experiences to do their jobs, and they are motivated by a desire to help clients. Individuals in social work with similar experiences may find a unique niche working with this population. In fact, individuals with a heightened sensitivity for inmates and ex-offenders may consider the fields of social work, nursing, counseling, community psychology, or public health to enhance their training and better serve this population. Additional findings emphasize the importance of acknowledging the small steps along the continuum of client success.
KW - Community-based organizations
KW - Evaluation
KW - Frontline staff
KW - HIV services
KW - Incarcerated populations
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U2 - 10.1080/15381500902736384
DO - 10.1080/15381500902736384
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:70449106950
SN - 1538-1501
VL - 8
SP - 95
EP - 113
JO - Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services
JF - Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services
IS - 1
ER -