Improving HIV Care Continuum Outcomes Among Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Through Critical Time Legal Interventions

This study focuses on improving HIV care for people who have recently been released from prison. These individuals often face many challenges such as limited access to healthcare, unstable housing, and employment issues, which can all interfere with their ability to manage HIV effectively. By providing legal services alongside medical care, the study aims to help remove these barriers and improve outcomes such as timely access to HIV treatment, retention in care, and achieving viral suppression. This approach, known as a medical-legal partnership, integrates legal support with healthcare to address issues that negatively affect health, with the goal of providing better care for formerly incarcerated individuals living with HIV. Participants in the study will receive comprehensive support that includes both medical and legal assistance. The intervention involves training staff in healthcare and legal fields to work together, ensuring that legal expertise is available during healthcare appointments. This setup helps address any legal issues that might interfere with the participants' health. Over six months, the study will track various outcomes, including the participants' physical and mental health, quality of life, and legal needs. The study will also assess how well healthcare providers communicate with patients and how ready they are to continue these practices in the future. This research is designed to create a sustainable model that can be used to improve HIV care for this vulnerable population.