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Mobile Support to Help People Leaving Incarceration Access HIV and Substance Use Care

Tests a mobile support program for HIV prevention in people recently released from incarceration.

Key facts

Who runs it
University of California, Los Angeles
Where
Oakland and Riverside, United StatesSee the 3 sites
Trial code
Registry title
California MEPS Hub
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
318 people, planned
Started
1 Dec 2025
Expected to end
31 Jul 2029
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • Mobile Enhanced Prevention Support (MEPS)
  • Control
Record updated
3 April 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for men who left jail, prison or detention in the past 12 months, have a substance use problem and have not been diagnosed with HIV. It also includes staff of partner agencies.

Age
18 to 59 years
Sex
Men (assigned male at birth)
Disease stage
Reports a substance use disorder diagnosis, or sought substance use services, in the past 24 months. Has not received an HIV diagnosis (self-reported).
Earlier treatment
Released from incarceration (a stay over 24 hours in jail, prison or a detention center) in the previous 12 months.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • No smartphone and not willing to get one
  • Cannot speak and understand English
  • Not enough reading skills to use a phone app

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 17 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • RCT Participants
  • Assigned male at birth
  • Ages 18 - 59
  • Was released from incarceration in the previous 12 months (incarceration is defined as a stay in jail, prison, or detention centers for over 24 hours)
  • Reports an SUD diagnosis or seeking SUD services at any time in the 24 months prior to enrollment
  • During the 24 months prior to enrollment, either:; Reports intercourse with a person assigned male at birth; Reports injection drug use
  • Has not received an HIV diagnosis (based on self-report)
  • Possesses a smartphone or plans to obtain one
  • Plans to reside within designated jurisdictions (counties) for the 9 months following enrollment; CBO and agency staff participating in implementation surveys or interviews
  • >=18 years of age
  • Employed at a study site or otherwise involved with intervention implementation and/or maintenance OR works at an agency in the counties where the study is taking place (Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Alameda counties, California)
  • Willing to provide informed consent for participation

Who cannot take part

  • RCT Participants:
  • Does not have a smart phone and is not willing to obtain one
  • Is not able to speak and understand English
  • Has insufficient reading skills to operate a mobile application on a cell phone; CBO participating in implementation interviews
  • n/a

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

  • Are you between 18 and 59 years old?

Where in United States

  • CAL-PEPOakland, United StatesContact: Lisa RyanTaking people
  • Kindful RestorationRiverside, United StatesContact: Ernesto RodriguezTaking people
  • Starting Over, IncRiverside, United StatesContact: Ashley WilliamsTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The California Hub for HIV/SUD Prevention Research with Reentry Populations addresses the question: "Can the evidence-based MEPS intervention be adapted and implemented at a range of organizations to effectively serve a wider range of clients?"

Read full original descriptionShow less

The Mobile Enhanced Prevention Support (MEPS) intervention was originally implemented in Los Angeles County and was proven successful in promoting biomedical HIV prevention (PrEP) uptake and preventative screenings in people who used drugs who recently left incarceration. MEPS is an evidence-based intervention for people with substance use disorders (SUD) that incorporates a client-centered planning session, including trained peer mentors, service utilization incentives, and a mobile application (GeoPass).

The study includes a randomized controlled trial (RCT) across three community partners located in Riverside and Alameda Counties. At least 300 people will be enrolled in these three counties; the first 200 will be randomized to either receive the intervention or usual care, with the final 100 all receiving the intervention. The primary implementation outcome for the study involves using an implementation science framework and assessment tools to examine MEPS's implementation. Key outcomes include how well the implementation strategies used support intervention enrollment and retention, integration with existing services in each partnering community agency, and perceived intervention acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness, and maintenance at 6- and 12-months. The primary effectiveness outcome for the study is an increase in HIV testing, PrEP uptake and adherence, and SUD service utilization at 6 months and 12 months in the MEPS compared to the usual care group. Secondary effectiveness outcomes include frequency of service use for SUDs, hepatitis C virus testing, and linkage to care for those who test positive for HIV or hepatitis C.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • MEPS ArmTreatment being tested

    Intervention arm participants receive a client-centered goal planning session following enrollment; 14 sessions with a peer mentor over a period of 6 months; cash incentives for accessing medical and non-medical services; and a smartphone app to keep track of goals, incentive earnings and provider appointments, a provider search feature, and fill-out surveys based on participant experiences with accessing services.

    Treatment: Mobile Enhanced Prevention Support (MEPS)

  • Control ArmExisting treatment, for comparison

    Control arm participants receive a client-centered goal planning session (like the intervention arm), and usual care.

    Treatment: Control

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
California Hub for HIV/STI/SUD Prevention Research With Reentry Populations
Plain-language title
Mobile Support to Help People Leaving Incarceration Access HIV and Substance Use CareGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 13 November 2026.
Fit questions
Built from NCT07433985, who can take part
Record updated
3 April 2026