LINCOLN, Ill. (WAND) — In 1993 the Illinois Department of Corrections launched its HIV/AIDS Peer Education Program.
Under the IDOC Office of Health Services, the program was designed to serve as a resource for residents living in IDOC facilities, specifically those who arrived at intake. It started with 5 people in 1993 and has since grown to 95 people across IDOC facilities statewide.
"This peer education program is just one effort spearheaded by Governor J.B. Pritzker, along with the Illinois Department of Public Health, Chicago Department of Public Health, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago called 'Getting to Zero'. We are trying to effectively end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Illinois by the year 2030," said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Sameer Vohra, MD, JD, MA.
Offenders who go through the program receive extensive training. The curriculum is based on Reach One Teach One, which is a peer health education program that focuses on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, transgender health, STIs and opioids.
HIV/AIDS peer educators are trained by HIV prevention specialists and once certified, peer educators deliver their presentations during orientation and one-on-ones.
"We typically give guidance and information for HIV testing and we inform people about vaccines that are available inside the institution," explained Erika Ray, IDOC Peer Educator at Logan Correctional Center.
Ray also works as a doula at Logan Correctional Center. She said that young women who enter the facility need guidance, so she wants to make sure they are supported.
"The younger women, it's like talking to my daughter. I have a 23-year-old daughter," she explained. "I know I would want someone to do it for my daughter because I've had women step into my shoes while I'm gone. So, I try to be that for young women that are here."
These peer educators work closely with UIC, who provides infectious disease consultations, medications, and discharge services. Even after a woman leaves the facility, the goal is to make sure they have a soft landing returning to the community.
"We do so much programming in here," said Janene Patton, peer educator. "There are so many ladies in here that are reaching out and they want to change their life."
A peer training course through the Illinois Department of Corrections.
In 2017, an estimated 39,842 people were living with HIV in Illinois. Since the first cases of HIV/AIDS were reported, there has been stigma around those who are living with the virus. The hope with peer educators is to break that silence and share important information.
"HIV is real and there are high rates in some communities," said Ray. "People don't talk about it, so I think that removing some of that stigma requires people to talk about it out loud."
There are 400 people in the IDOC custody who are living with HIV.
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