Program is an Innovative Collaboration between Chainless Change and DKBmed 

October 21, 2024 – DKBmed, an integrated continuing medical education company, and Chainless Change, a Fort Lauderdale-based peer-led nonprofit organization offering recovery, advocacy, and support to those impacted by the criminal justice system, will present “LifeStylez Community Health Expo,” a community health fair on November 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park (2520 NW 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale). The health fair is part of a larger initiative Rebuilding Lives: Improving Care in HIV, designed to improve HIV outcomes for formerly incarcerated individuals.

“People who have been incarcerated are five times more likely to acquire or live with HIV than those in the general population,” notes Dr. Charurut Somboonwit, professor of medicine at the University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine. “In Florida, the gap is even wider, with is seven times higher risk of HIV for incarcerated individuals. Community outreach programs like this health fair, in many ways, are essential to remove some of the many barriers that lead to poor health among the most vulnerable members of society.”

“Rebuilding Lives: Improving Care in HIV,” which was supported through an educational grant from Gilead Sciences, Inc., aims to educate healthcare providers and staff at Chainless Change on STI and HIV prevention and treatment while establishing a patient-provider referral network. The project’s overarching goal is to connect justice-impacted communities with testing, treatment, and knowledge that promotes health equity.

While the incidence of HIV in the United States has been declining and progress in HIV prevention is being made, the progress is not uniform, and significant disparities based on race, ethnicity, and region exist. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida, specifically, has one of the nation’s highest rates of HIV diagnosis, with 21.7 per 100,000, compared with national rate of 12.7 per 100,000.4  AIDSVu relates that In Fort Lauderdale, the rate is 36 per 100,000.5.

“DKBmed is committed to health education for providers and for specific groups like the formerly incarcerated who can benefit from efforts that improve one’s health and well-being,” said Dean Beals, CEO of DKBmed. “Initiatives like the ‘Rebuilding Lives: Improving Care in HIV’ allow us to close the gaps in HIV care and move us closer towards ending the HIV epidemic.”

The health expo has a special focus on formerly incarcerated individuals who often lack access to health care testing, treatment, and knowledge. It is an opportunity to educate these individuals, link them to health services, and help reintegrate them into life after incarceration.

All are welcome to engage with health professionals, learn about disease prevention and engage in self-care activities such as massages and yoga. Attendees can access free HIV and STI testing, as well as free screenings provided by Holy Cross Health Services for hepatitis C, colon cancer and diabetes. Additionally, there will be free food and raffle prizes for those who take advantage of the free health screenings and resources plus entertainment from South Florida’s WEDR 99 Jamz radio station.

Participating organizations include OIC of South Florida, SunServe, F Fentanyl Inc., AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Oxford House, EatWell Exchange, Care Resource, TRIO Educational Opportunity Center at Broward College, MAV massage aesthetics vanity, FLITE Center, Ambetter operated by Sunshine Health, Fellowship Recovery Community Organization, Fairway Future Golf, The Poverello Center, South Florida Afro Pride Federation INC, 1 Smile,

Yoga 4 Change, Crystal Love Therapy with Life Gardening Tools, and Community Based Connections.

Registration for the health expo is recommended, but not required. To register as an attendee, please visit this link. For general information about the Life Stylez Community Health Expo, please contact Shamile Louis at shamile@chainlesschange.org or Matt Miller from DKBmed at mmiller@dkbmed.com.

About Chainless Change

Chainless Change, a Black-led and disability-led organization based in South Florida, serves as a community of recovery, advocacy, and support for those impacted by the criminal legal system. Since 2019, they have improved the lives of justice-involved people and families through collective care initiatives, supportive services, resources, and advocacy that centers health and wellness, stability, and economic mobility. To learn more about Chainless Change, visit https://ccifl.org/.

About DKBmed

DKBmed is an integrated continuing medical education company operated by a team of medical education experts. Working with providers, patient advocacy groups and others, DKBmed develops innovative educational programs and quality improvement initiatives designed to improve patient health by educating both clinicians and their patients. DKBmed has extensive experience in community-facing work including many programs for the African American community. Fade Out HIV: Barber and Clinician Outreach addressed critical gaps in HIV diagnosis and care through education directed towards barbers, their clients and health care providers in barbershops serving the underserved community in Los Angeles. The design and outcomes of this award-winning program were recently published in the Journal of CME and presented at the International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science. Saving Souls, Healing Bodies: Faith based HIV Outreach addressed HIV prevalence in New Orleans, Louisiana through church-based outreach. The program conducted four health fairs, educated 193 people and distributed HIV and other tests. DKBmed’s programs are accessible through the company’s website at www.dkbmed.com.