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New prison program offered in Ogdensburg, Gouverneur providing HIV, STD, Hepatitis prevention education

Posted 9/1/11

AIDS Community Resources has launched a new Criminal Justice Initiative (CJI), funded with $306,205 in state and federal funds, to provide comprehensive HIV, STD, and Hepatitis prevention programs …

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New prison program offered in Ogdensburg, Gouverneur providing HIV, STD, Hepatitis prevention education

Posted

AIDS Community Resources has launched a new Criminal Justice Initiative (CJI), funded with $306,205 in state and federal funds, to provide comprehensive HIV, STD, and Hepatitis prevention programs for inmates.

In St. Lawrence County the program will be offered at the Gouverneur Correctional Facility, Ogdensburg Correctional Facility and Riverview Correctional Facility in Ogdensburg.

When fully staffed, the CJI will have created six news jobs: two in Syracuse and four in the North Country.

The program, which teaches individual and skills building group prevention services to inmates, is also being offered at five other prisons in the Watertown and Elmira area.

“It is important that incarcerated men have an understanding of behaviors that place them at risk for HIV, hepatitis and other STDs,” said ACR Director of Prevention Services Wenona Wake. “Some men are engaging in unprotected sex (condoms are not available) and some are getting tattoos, both of which place them at high-risk for the transmission and/or acquisition of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other STDs.”

Services offered include:

• Educational presentations on the topics of HIV, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), Hepatitis, and contributing co-factors.

• Comprehensive peer trainings to provide skills, knowledge, and tools necessary to perform HIV/STD presentations.

• An advisory board which provides an opportunity for inmates to give feedback and suggestions for improving and modifying the program’s services.

• Individual prevention counseling that encourages safer and healthier lifestyles through educating about HIV/AIDS, STDs, Hepatitis A, B, and C, behavior modification, substance abuse prevention, self esteem building, and improving communication skills.

• Transitional planning to assist individuals living with HIV/AIDS who are returning to the community.

• Healthy relationships training to assist with issues surrounding disclosure of their HIV positive status and coping skills.

• HIV counseling and testing.

The Criminal justice Initiative Team:

• Tim Connor, the CJI Coordinator, has a background as a police officer (retired from Watertown Police Department), a Registered Nurse, and an Educator/Counselor for Northern Regional Center for Independent Living.

• Jerry Pearson worked most recently as a Support Services Case Manager for AIDS Community Resources, but transitioned to the Criminal Justice Initiative at onset of the program. Pearson holds a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Regis University.

• Bonnie Towles holds a degree in criminal justice from Jefferson Community College. She has worked as an addiction counselor at the Samaritan Center and holds certificates in a number of areas as well as for Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and Emergency Medical Technician.

• Derek Villnave worked previously with Seneca-Cayuga ARC and alternative high school teacher. He has a degree from Le Moyne College, with graduate work at SUNY Oswego and SUNY Cortland.

• Dale Woolson is a former Substance Abuse/Mental Health Counselor, HIV/AIDS Educator, and Chemical Dependency Counselor. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Syracuse University with a degree in Social Work.