Since 1991, ActionAIDS has maintained a presence in Philadelphia county jails to help people with HIV access medical care, social services and support. The keystone of the Prison Linkage Program (PLP) is about building relationships – with clients, prison health providers, criminal justice system, and community agencies. These relationships have been cultivated over the 18 years that ActionAIDS has been working in the Philadelphia county jails.

Our Case Managers work one-on-one with clients during their incarceration and for several months upon their release. The services are varied and tailored to individual needs. At a minimum, every client has a Case Manager who helps them develop a plan to access health care, medications, and services pre- and post-release. People within prison have complex needs and their Case Manager can help coordinate their care to ensure the HIV disease is managed.

Upon release, every PLP clients are supported to access benefits, health care, and HIV medications upon release. The program manages emergency supplies of HIV medications to ensure that people remain on medication during what is often a difficult transition from jail and into medical care. When clients stabilized with their health care, medication regimen, and social services, they have a better chance for a productive future.