Linking Inmates with Needed Care (LINC)

The Linking Inmates Needing Care (LINC) project connects prison inmates with HIV, tuberculosis (TB), sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and hepatitis testing and treatment, provides prevention education, and helps formerly incarcerated enrollees access care and housing following their release. The program targets high-risk inmates, specifically African and Latino men and women, who are already HIV-positive, or who do not know their HIV, TB, STD, or hepatitis status. The project is funded through the national Corrections Demonstration Project, and run by the Florida Department of Health in short- and long-term Florida correctional facilities.

LINC collaborates with the Florida Department of Corrections for services inside of the jail and community agencies to provide services to clients after release. Former inmates are offered enrollment in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, assisted with applications for disability, food stamps, and Medicaid, referrals for case management, substance abuse counseling, transitional housing, mental health and primary care treatment, and transportation and job assistance.

The goal of the LINC program is to provide health education and care to prison inmates while they are incarcerated and following their release.

Between 2000 and 2002 the LINC program provided services at nine correctional facilities state-wide and established collaborative relationships with 45 support agencies in 13 counties. Between April 2001 and June 2002 over 6,000 inmates were tested for HIV and syphilis, and nearly 4,000 were tested for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. Between jail and prison programs, 463 inmates were enrolled in the LINC project.