Angela McLaurin describes it simply as “the wake-up call” – that moment in 1995 when she tested positive for HIV while in prison. Upon her release, Angela used an HIV services directory to link herself to resources, but she knows that a booklet of information is no substitute for individual assistance.

That’s why Angela and Tawon Dale—both members of AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) Community Advisory Board—agreed to appear in an AFC-produced educational video entitled “Outside The Walls: Life Beyond HIV.” Beginning this year, the four-minute video will be shown inside the walls of Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) facilities and used by discharge planners to encourage offenders to know their HIV status and connect to HIV/AIDS services upon release.

“Educating offenders inside the facilities is an important step to providing our inmate population with vital testing information, and can serve to reach people who have previously missed out on HIV and AIDS education,” said Illinois Department of Corrections Director S.A. Godinez. “This video also gives specific HIV resource information to offenders re-entering society who may not have otherwise sought out services.”

AFC works with IDOC and a variety of public and private partners, including housing agencies, case management providers, and other correctional facilities to link individuals living with HIV/AIDS to the services they need. The video is available for download at: http://aidschicago.org/corrections.