Support for HIV, STI, and substance-use care after release from jail
California Hub for HIV/STI/SUD Prevention Research with Reentry Populations
This project offers peer support, cash incentives, and a phone app to help people leaving jail or prison get PrEP, testing for HIV/STIs/HCV, and fast addiction care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11379405 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you’re leaving jail or prison, this program helps you connect to HIV prevention (PrEP), testing for HIV, STIs and hepatitis C, and quick treatment for substance use. The 6-month MEPS program pairs trained Peer Mentors with cash incentives and a mobile app to set goals, find services, and get rewards. The team first adapts the program to new community agencies, then runs a randomized trial in Riverside and Alameda counties where some people receive MEPS and others receive usual services. The work is run by university and community partners who aim to make the program practical and usable in real-world reentry settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people recently released from jail or prison in Riverside or Alameda counties who are at risk for HIV/STIs or have substance-use needs and are willing to work with a peer mentor and use a mobile app.
Not a fit: People who are not recently jailed or released, who live outside the participating counties, or who have no HIV/STI or substance-use risk are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could increase PrEP use, testing, and rapid treatment after release, lowering HIV/STI spread and overdose risk in people reentering the community.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work shows peer support, incentives, and apps can help with care engagement, but combining these approaches specifically for people reentering the community is newer and being tested here.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harawa, Nina Thawata — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Harawa, Nina Thawata
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.