NCJ Number
127600
Date Published
1990
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Since the late 1980's a number of programs have arisen that cater specifically to the needs of children with AIDS and their families. Some programs were part of specialized child welfare services, some were developed independently of traditional agencies, some were new, and some modified existing programs, but all faced unexpected and unprecedented challenges.
Abstract
Family-based, in-home support to families caring for children with AIDS, be they biological, foster, or adoptive families, can range from educational programs targeted at the caregivers and community to efforts to reduce the family's isolation and assistance with practical and psychosocial problems associated with AIDS. The creation of programs providing residential settings for short-term, transitional, and even long-term care for children with AIDS has been another approach; programs in Dallas, Houston, Washington DC, and Albany are described. However, most children requiring out-of-home care are placed in foster homes; the foster parents are recruited, licensed, and trained to provide a home environment and care for children with AIDS. In Connecticut, some foster parents have accepted parents with AIDS as well as their children. The "Best Nest" foster care program in Philadelphia is also described.