Community care linking people leaving jail to HIV and opioid treatment
Addressing risk through Community Treatment for Infectious disease and Opioid use disorder Now (ACTION) among justice-involved populations
This project compares two ways to connect people leaving jail or prison who use opioids or are at risk for HIV to local HIV prevention/treatment and addiction services.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238326 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are leaving jail or prison, the project will enroll about 538 people and randomly assign them to one of two approaches that help you get care after release. One approach uses patient navigators who personally link you to community HIV and opioid use disorder (OUD) services over a six-month period, and the other brings services to your area via a mobile health unit. People without HIV will be offered PrEP and people with HIV will be connected to treatment, while OUD services are coordinated alongside HIV care. The team follows participants in Connecticut and Texas and works with local agencies to improve screening, linkage, and ongoing treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults being released to the listed communities in Connecticut or Texas who have a history of opioid or injection drug use and who are living with or at risk for HIV are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who are not recently incarcerated, live outside the participating counties, have no history of opioid use, or are unwilling to engage with the offered services likely would not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help more people leaving incarceration start and stay in HIV prevention or treatment and OUD care, lowering overdose risk and HIV transmission.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier programs using patient navigators or mobile health units have improved linkage to care in some settings, but randomized comparisons in justice-involved populations remain limited.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Springer, Sandra Ann — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Springer, Sandra Ann
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.