Social service and case management needs of HIV-infected persons upon release from prison/jail

This study sought to identify social service needs of HIV-infected persons at the time of release from prison/jail and to describe their case management experiences after release from prison/jail. Sixteen men and women who were infected with HIV, each with a history of incarceration, participated in one of three focus group sessions. Study participants consisted of 11 men and five women. The majority of the participants were African-American (81%), single (50%), and currently unemployed (69%). Qualitative analysis of the focus group transcripts revealed a total of 483 comments regarding a need for social or health services. These comments were further grouped into 13 categories of services or service-related issues that represented the range of the responses. Although participants described positive experiences with specific case managers, their overall evaluation of case management was negative. Identified social services needs and the descriptions of their experiences with case management provides insight as to how case management services can be improved for this population.