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Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease

HIV/AIDS Care

Case Management and Psychosocial Services

In order to have an effective medical plan the patient’s bio-psychosocial needs must be addressed. Psychosocial support services and case management are both an integral part of the program. These services address emotional and social issues by helping families to get the necessary support.

Case Management services are provided to all eligible persons, regardless of ability to pay, by trained and licensed social workers. Each patient’s family is assigned to a social worker who is available to assess their needs, provide emotional support and coordinate referrals and linkages to appropriate resources as indicated. A service plan is developed in partnership with the patient and/or caregiver outlining the responsibility for each party involved. The service plan is reviewed at each contact, and again more formally every six months to determine the outcome and effectiveness of interventions.

Additionally, social workers assess the patient’s Psychosocial needs and recommend individual, family, or group counseling support services. The goal of this treatment is to remove barriers that may prevent patients from following medical recommendations or having poor medication adherence.

Three support groups meet monthly for ages 8 years and up to provide a “safe place” where confidential information can be shared and feelings legitimatized:

Counseling sessions address a broad range of patient concerns including acceptance of diagnosis and disclosure to family and friends. Sessions also serve as a venue for health education and adherence counseling. Additionally, counselors coordinate with medical staff to assess readiness for treatment options.