What’s Prison Got to Do with It?

1. What’s Prison Got to Do with It? Working at the Intersection of HIV and Imprisonment Laura McTighe Director of Project UNSHACKLE Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP) lmctighe@champnetwork.org (212) 937–7955, Ext. 20 www.champnetwork.org/unshackle

2. In this presentation We’ll talk about: • Who is most impacted by HIV and imprisonment; • Why the same communities are disproportionately affected by HIV and imprisonment; • What Project UNSHACKLE is doing to address the impact of HIV and imprisonment; and • How you can bring Project UNSHACKLE to organizations in your area. Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

3. An Introduction toProject UNSHACKLE • We are a national network dedicated to reducing new HIV infections tied to imprisonment by: • Working Inside Prisons to ensure people’s access to standard of care prevention, treatment and education; • Supporting People through Reentry and eliminating the barriers people face when coming home from prison; and • Rebuilding Our Communities through projects and campaigns that win the policy changes needed to end the crises of our most vulnerable populations. Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

4. Words to Live By No One Told Me By Waheedah Shabazz-El “…Then, when I volunteered to take a free HIV test administered by the prison health system, no one told me that I’d test positive for the virus. “No one told me what or what not to do about it. No one told me how or how not to live. In fact, no one told me that I could continue to live. “In actuality, I had willed myself to die. But, day after day I kept waking up, ALIVE!...” Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

5. Looking at the Big Picture More than 1 in 100 people in the U.S. are currently in prison. 1 in 31 people are currently in prison, on probation or on parole. 1 in 4 people with HIV will pass through prison each year. Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

6. Thinking about the Statistics Why do so many people with HIV pass through prison each year? Who is going to prison? Who is living with HIV? Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

7. HIV and Imprisonment Affect the Same Communities Take a look at disproportionate impact of HIV and imprisonment on people of color and women… Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

8. Identifying Imprisonment as a Social Determinant of HIV A 2005 study by Rucker Johnson and Steven Raphael1 found: The link among race, prison and HIV is so strong that it almost completely explains the disproportionate impact of HIV in the Black community. 1Rucker C. Johnson & Steven Raphael, “The Effects of Male Incarceration Dynamics on AIDS Infection Rates Among Africa-American Women and Men” (Berkley: July 2005). See Also: Robert Fullilove, “African Americans, Health Disparities and HIV/AIDS: Recommendations for Confronting the Epidemic in Black America” (National Minority AIDS Council: November 2006). Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

9. Breaking Down the Intersection of HIV and Imprisonment Our Goal: To identify both societal factors and individual behaviors that heighten the risk for HIV transmission or acquisition. Individual risk behaviors of people passing through prison can put them at risk, but imprisonment itself can also make it more difficult for people to protect themselves against HIV. Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

10. Lack of Jobs Financial Instability Broken Family Ties Loss of Caregivers Fractured Communities Fractured Communities Arrest–Jail/Prison–Reentry Need for Services and Support Relationship Instability Lack of Social Services Imprisonment Impacts the Health of Entire Communities What are some individual behaviors and societal factors driving HIV risk in our communities, in prison and at reentry? Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

11. Working at the Intersection of HIV and Imprisonment Our Goal: To incorporateboth individual and structural approaches for more effective HIV prevention strategies. Interventions to reach people passing through prison are needed, as well as interventions that address the barriers people face when coming home and that support healing and restoration in our communities. Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

12. Ready Employment Financial Stability Family Support Family Reintegration Community Wholeness Community Wholeness Arrest – Jail/Prison – Reentry Comprehensive Care and Support Relationship Stability Access to Social Services Addressing Imprisonment Can Reduce HIV Risk and Vulnerability What are some individual and structural interventions that could reduce HIV risk in our communities, in prison and at reentry? Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

13. Getting There Is Project UNSHACKLE’s Work • We aim to reduce new HIV infections tied to imprisonment by uniting individuals and organizations at the frontlines to: Rebuild Our Communities through projects and campaigns that win the policy changes needed to end the crises of our most vulnerable populations Support People through Reentry and eliminate the barriers people face when coming home from prison Work Inside Prisons to ensure people’s access to standard of care prevention, treatment and education Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

14. Step 1:Sharing Best Practices Our Goal: To bring together individuals and organizations working at the intersection of HIV and imprisonment to share best practices. How do we do it? • Our HIV and Imprisonment Strategy Listservhighlights emerging issues and research areas. • Our State-by-State Resource Directory covers organizations working on HIV and imprisonment. Let us know which projects in your area should be listed! Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

15. Step 2:Providing Skills-Building Resources Our Goal: To provide individuals and organizations with the resources they need to engage with the policy issues that impact their work at the front lines of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. • How do we do it? • Our Project UNSHACKLE Organizing Toolkit is a comprehensive resource for communications strategies and program development. • Check out the pilot toolkit online at: • www.champnetwork.org/unshackle Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

16. Step 3:Workshopping Key Local Issues Our Goal: To offer individuals and organizations a personalized space to workshop the issues they are facing in their work. How do we do it? • Our Reaching In/Reaching Out Trainings are structured around key themes in HIV and prison work, including the prison/reentry cycle, the daily impacts of the war on drugs and the resources of faith traditions. Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009

17. Bring Project UNSHACKLEto Organizations in Your Area! For more information, contact: Laura McTighe Director of Project UNSHACKLE lmctighe@champnetwork.org (212) 937–7955, Ext. 20 Laura McTighe, Project UNSHACKLE - Prevention Networking Group, May 2009