“I wasn’t in a healthy place when I returned to NYC following my release from prison. Luckily, I found The Fortune Society, and they referred me to a community clinic where I actually feel comfortable. Fortune also helped me find a stable place to live, and both my physical and mental health have improved significantly since I moved in. Knowing I have a safe and peaceful place to call home – somewhere I can close the door and cook my own meals – it’s incredible.
My counselor assisted me with more than health and housing, though; she helped me build a genuinely positive and constructive life in a city that had become a stranger during my incarceration. Every Friday, she printed me a list of free activities for the weekend, and she expected full reviews on Mondays. I’m still amazed someone cared enough to help me like that.” -Robert W., Fortune client
Fortune uses a holistic and integrated approach to serving formerly incarcerated men and women living with HIV/AIDS, helping to ensure their safe and healthy transition back into the community.
We began providing HIV/AIDS-specific case management in 1990 in response to the high rates of HIV found among the criminal justice population. Our program has evolved significantly over the years, and currently offers a full continuum of HIV/AIDS-specific services to currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, including outreach, HIV-specific case management, supportive counseling and treatment adherence. Linkage to appropriate health care services upon release helps prevent the reentry transition from destabilizing our clients’ health or treatment adherence, significantly improves their quality of life, and supports their progress towards self-sufficiency.
Upon arriving at Fortune, Health Services clients have an initial meeting with their counselor. After resolving any crisis needs, such as locating emergency housing and/or applying for entitlements, the counselor and client work together to develop a treatment plan that outlines their short and longer term goals. HIV-specific case management includes an immediate connection to primary care services, follow-up on doctors’ visits, and support around treatment adherence. We also offer supportive counseling to clients and their families to help them cope emotionally and psychologically with HIV disease.
FORTUNE’S HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM INCLUDES:
Early Intervention Services (EIS) use a holistic and integral approach to addressing the needs of individuals at risk for HIV infection, as well as those who are HIV-positive. Well-trained and caring staff provides HIV counseling and education, informing clients of the risks associated with HIV transmission, and empowering them to achieve greater health and well-being through the adoption of risk reduction behaviors. Additionally, the EIS team conducts rapid HIV antibody testing to individuals requesting an HIV test. Results are provided the same day, and individuals who test positive are assisted to either access medical care to confirm their HIV-positive status, or – if they have a confirmed HIV diagnosis – receive a referral to primary medical care services from a well-trained and caring staff. Individuals with both HIV positive and negative results will receive referrals to a comprehensive array of wrap-around services at Fortune.
The Anti-Stigma Program is an interactive group that educates clients with unknown or negative HIV status about HIV/AIDS and the harsh affects of stigma. Individuals develop tools that empower them to make healthy decisions that promote HIV prevention and reduce stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. Groups are confidential and tailored to meet the needs of both HIV-positive and unknown/negative individuals.
Comprehensive and Supportive Case Management within Health Services provides access/referrals to medical care and ongoing case management to ensure that HIV-positive clients continually receive high-quality and compassionate community-based health care.