Children with HIV infection: collaborative responsibilities of the child welfare and medical communities.

Abstract

AS THE NUMBER OF children in . fected with the human im munodeficiency virus (HIV) and pediatric acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases grows nation wide, the mutual problems and con cerns of child welfare and health care agencies point to the need for increas ing collaboration between the two com munities. Numerous media reports have described the astronomical costs of pro viding health care to persons with AIDS. The increasing number of HIV infected boarder babies who remain in acute care hospital beds is un necessarily costly and does not allow for the provision of love, care, and stimula tion essential to infant development. Child welfare agencies are being asked to assume custody and find foster homes for these children. The health care community is assuming greater responsibility not only in treating these children but also in educating the public about AIDS and in attempting to allay the fears of potential foster parents. The cooperative efforts in New Jersey between the child welfare and health care communities represent a signifi cant effort to challenge and overcome the territorial boundaries that can pre vent the provision of critical services to HIV-infected children and to their fami lies. This article describes the col laborative effort between the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), and the Children's Hospital AIDS Program (CHAP) of New Jersey.