Justice-Involved Communicable Disease Vaccine and Education Program was identified by the Graham County Department of Public Health Communicable Disease nurses and the Peer Support Specialist as an action, that when combined with other actions in our community, that has a reasonable chance of making a difference in justice-involved persons in our community. This is a new and ongoing program in our community. The purpose is to provide communicable disease education to inmates at the Graham County Jail is to enhance awareness of prevention and identification of communicable diseases. 

The priority population/customers for this justice-involved program are justice-involved persons, and the program aims to make a difference at the individual/interpersonal behavior level. Implementation will take place in the Graham County Jail and the Graham County Public Health Department.

The partners for this Justice-Involved Communicable Disease Vaccine and Education Program include:

The Justice-Involved Communicable Disease Vaccine and Education Program has continued to go well. The Health Department staff goes every other week to talk to the inmates at Graham County Jail about communicable diseases and diseases that could be acquired while they are imprisoned. If a vaccine isn't needed, then education is gone over and our peer support specialist goes over the services that can be provided while in jail or when they get out. This program has helped get those who may not seek out healthcare, get the vaccines they need to stay healthy. 

The Justice-Involved Communicable Disease Vaccine and Education program has continued in 2023. The Health Department staff goes one to two times a month to talk to the inmates at Graham County Jail about communicable diseases, vaccines, and Community Linkage to Care programs. If a vaccine isn't needed, the inmate still gets education on communicable diseases that are possible to get in and out of prison if they are not vaccinated. Our Peer Support Specialists inform the inmates on their Community Linkage to Care programs and services that they can provide for them in and out of prison. This program contiues to help inmates get the vaccines they need to stay healthy and get education on communicable diseases.