British Columbia Persons with AIDS Society

Prison Outreach Program

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Prison Outreach Program

The Prison Outreach Program (POP) delivers HIV/AIDS treatment information, advocacy and support to Federal and Provincial inmates throughout BC.

Each month, POP volunteers conduct regular outreach visits to numerous institutions to provide support to HIV+ inmates. HIV+ inmates are assisted by the attendance of POP staff and/or volunteers at Parole Hearings, with some release planning, adjustment work e.g. referral to a community HIV doctor and occasionally addiction treatment and / or half way house referrals. Training workshops on wellness promotion, harm reduction including use of needles and tattooing and peer counselling are scheduled throughout the year at Institutions and Correctional Centres.

The POP line, BCPWA's toll-free telephone hot line assists hundreds of inmates with support, counselling and information relating to HIV/AIDS and their incarceration and life after incarceration. For further information or to enquire about the programs, please contact the POP Coordinator at 604-893-2283.

BCPWA Developed Resources

[ Supporting an Inmate with HIV/AIDS and and Hepatitis C ] - Helpful tips for staff to better support inmates with HIV/AIDS.
[ Safer Tattooing ] - Information on risk and disease tranmission for tattooing in prison. Helpful harm reduction and aftercare techniques.
[ Tattooing In Prisons ] - A fact sheet about underground tattooing in the prison system and techniques and proposals for safer methods to prevent HIV transmission.
[ HIV Myths ] - The truth about HIV.

Contact:

Address:

Toll Free Telephone:

Phone:

Fax:

Email:

pop@bcpwa.org

BCPWA Society gratefully acknowledges the support of the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch of the Provincial Government for the Prison Outreach Program.