Issues in providing services to developmentally disabled HIV infected children.
Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:328 (abstract no. Th.D.810) Susser PL, Miller S; Herbert G. Birch Services, New York, NY, USA
Birch Services provides residential, educational, clinical and family support and advocacy services to over 400 developmentally disabled children, adults and their families. Birch became involved with children with AIDS when research and experience indicated that in addition to their medical problems, 95% of the children born with HIV infection have or develop neurological impairments and/or developmental disabilities. This year, we will serve at least 50 infected children and their families in projects including: 1) the Children's Center, a 10 bed home in Brooklyn, NY for HIV infected children (usually "boarder babies"), which addresses the children's developmental as well as medical needs; 2) Early intervention programs in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens (NYC), integrating HIV infected and noninfected developmentally delayed children; 3) A residential summer camp for infected children and their families operated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The issues which persist in working with HIV infected families and which will be addressed are: the appropriateness of congregate vs. foster care for homeless infected children, the need for alternative methods to meet infected children's educational and developmental needs, and the extensive family support services and interagency coordination needed to address children's and family needs.
Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Disabled Persons, HIV Infections, Family, Early Intervention (Education), Health Services Needs and Demand, Social Support, Developmental Disabilities, Child Welfare, Family Health, Child Health Services, Child of Impaired Parents, Child, Human, Adult, Infant, ICA6
