Children and Adolescents
Updated May 2005
The situation of HIV/AIDS amongst youth populations in the United
States often remains a concern. In 2003, 59 children under the age
of 13 were diagnosed with AIDS; while this number shows a significant
decrease from the 105 children who were diagnosed in 2002, the percentage
of AIDS diagnoses among adolescents and young adults (ages 15-24)
increased by 10% during the same time period. Overall, an estimated
9,079 young people were living with AIDS in 2003, nearly an 11%
increase since 1999, when 8,193 young people were living with AIDS.
Several social factors contribute to the increasing risk of HIV
infection amongst children and adolescents. The lack of education
focused on STD transmission and treatment, safe sex practices, and
drug use in school and community-based programs remains imminent.
In addition, young men who have sex with men (MSM) and out of school
youth such as homeless, juvenile offenders, and school drop-outs
lack the support networks and HIV prevention programs needed to
effectively combat HIV/AIDS in their harsh situations. The following
organizations and publications directly address a broad spectrum
of HIV/AIDS issues amongst youth populations.
Organizations
Adolescent AIDS Program (AAP)
www.adolescentaids.org
This website has many resources and information on youth programs
and services for those living with HIV/AIDS; adolescents who are
at-risk for HIV infection; healthcare providers who treat adolescents
living with or at-risk for HIV infection; and lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender or questioning adolescents, their families and caregivers.
Advocates for Youth
Advocates for Youth is dedicated to creating programs and advocating for policies that help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. One of their projects, YouthHIV (www.youthhiv.org) is created by and for HIV-positive youth and HIV peer educators. The purpose is to provide a safe and effective website offering sexual and mental health information, community support, opportunities for advocacy, resources and referrals, and online peer education.
AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families
AIDS Alliance, a non-profit organization, is a forum for consumers and care providers to create and share information about programs that work. Through education and training, research, and advocacy, AIDS Alliance works to help stop the AIDS epidemic among young people, families, and communities. AIDS Alliance membership includes over 500 community-based organizations that provide HIV prevention, care and research services in 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The website contains valuable information about AIDS Alliance programs and resources, such as: an archive of press releases and action alerts (Resources); public policy information (Public Policy) ; an online consumer education center and clearing house (Programs) ; information about Voices, AIDS Alliance's annual membership meeting and conference.
Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (CAAF)
CAAF works to improve the quality of life for the thousands of children living with the effects of HIV/AIDS and makes grants to non-profit agencies throughout the U.S. in the following areas: direct care, basic needs, and social and recreational programming.
Children's AIDS Fund
The Children's AIDS Fund works to limit suffering of children and their families caused by HIV by providing care, services, resources, referrals, and education. This website contains news updates, statistics, resources, and links to state, federal and international institutions.
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
The Foundation's mission is to identify, fund and conduct critical pediatric research that will lead to better treatments and prevention of HIV infection in infants and children and to accelerate the discovery of new treatments for other serious and life-threatening pediatric diseases. In addition to organizing special events and fundraisers, the Foundation also funds global HIV/AIDS programs to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV.
Family Health International (FHI)
FHI works to improve reproductive and family health around the world. Through the YouthNet program, FHI aims to prevent HIV/AIDS among youth 10-24 years old through collaborating with young people, parents, schools, employers, policymakers, health professionals, and faith-based programs and community leaders.
Grantmakers for Children, Youth, and Families (GCYF)
Grantmakers for Children, Youth & Families serves as a point of contact for grantmakers seeking collegial and collaborative relationships with other funders concerned with children, youth, and families.
National Pediatric AIDS Network (NPAN)
NPAN is a resource for information on children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS. NPAN provides access to information about topics such as: treatment; clinical trials; services for children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS; conferences; publications and other information resources; educational resources.
National Youth Advocacy Coalition
The National Youth Advocacy Coalition is a social justice organization that advocates for young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) in an effort to end discrimination against these youth and to ensure their physical and emotional wellbeing.
Publications
Benjamin DK Jr., Miller WC, Ryder RW, Weber DJ, Walter E, McKinney RE Jr. "Growth patterns reflect response to antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive infants: potential utility in resource-poor settings." AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2004 Jan 18(1): 35-43.
HIV/AIDS in Infants, Children, and Adolescents. Rogers MF (Ed). Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company. 2000.
Invisible Caregivers: Older Adults Raising Children in the Wake of HIV/AIDS. Joslin D (Ed). Columbia University Press. 2002.
Medical Management of AIDS in Children. Shearer WT, Hanson CI (Eds). Saunders. 2003.
Prevention and Treatment of HIV Infection in Infants and Children. Ammann AJ, Rubinstein A (Eds). New York, NY: New York Academy of Sciences. 2000.
Teplin LA, Mericle AA, McClelland GM, Abram KM. "HIV and AIDS Risk Behaviors in Juvenile Detainees: Implications for Public Health Policy." Am J Public Health. 2003 Jun 93(6): 906-12.
Working with Families in the Era of HIV/AIDS. Pequegnat W, Szapocznik J (Eds). Sage Publications. 2000.