The linkage program assists people with accessing HIV care. The program goals are to increase the number of people who know their HIV status, to increase the number of people with HIV linked to care, and to increase the number of people retained in care and on antiretroviral therapy maintaining a suppressed viral load.

The Linkage Team has worked to redefine the culture of those who serve people with HIV to enlist everyone in the spectrum of services (case managers, medical providers, prevention providers, etc.) to link those with HIV to medical care. We invite community providers, consumers, patient care advocates, clinical staff and others to be a part of the linkage team as we help those we work with find a medical home. 

Peer Navigator Program

Peer navigators are people who have been living with HIV for some time and are experienced with navigating the system of care as well as with managing the daily challenges of living with HIV. The role of the peer navigator is to provide a bridge between providers and clients that facilitates the medical and psychosocial care of the client. Peer navigators can encourage engagement into care and can support medication and treatment adherence by providing education, resources, and mentorship. There are currently 13 peer navigator programs.

Florida Corrections and Jail Linkage Program

In 1999, the Department of Health started funding the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) to service those with HIV in state corrections institutions. Florida law requires that all inmates be tested for HIV prior to release. Research shows that HIV rates in correctional facilities are three to five times higher than in the general population.

The Florida Department of Health currently collaborates with 15 counties in an effort to identify, test and treat inmates with HIV. Additional testing for other STDs, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and hepatitis may also be available on a county-to-county basis in the jail facilities. Beyond identification of inmates with HIV, this program also includes counseling, education, and follow-up services to offenders who are re-entering back into the community.

More than 95% of those incarcerated will eventually return to their communities, so it is essential to test and provide opportunities for treatment.

Program Goals
  • Complete individualized needs assessment.
  • Schedule appointment for medical and support services within the city the client will be residing.
  • Release medical labs to medical providers.
  • Ensure the client receives 30 days of current medications and a copy of medical records from the correctional institution.
  • Provide HIV education and awareness to inmates with HIV.
  • Refer to a linkage coordinator for continued community services if returning to one of the following counties: Volusia, Lake, Seminole, Orange, Brevard, Polk, Osceola, Miami-Dade, Broward, or West Palm Beach.
  • Call medical provider to ensure follow-through of medical care once the client has been released back into the community. 
Peer Education

The program works with inmates at the Florida Reception Center to train fellow inmates in a peer education program. A peer educator trainer hosts “train-the-trainer” sessions. The goal of the peer educator training is to create a pool of inmate peer educators to conduct HIV prevention programs in prison.

Peer education training program topics include:

  •  HIV/AIDS
  •  STDs
  •  Hepatitis
  •  TB