NCJ Number
166290
Date Published
1996
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Intended neither as a set of new recommendations nor a list of new ideas, this report is intended as a catalyst for change in the way Americans view the threat of HIV and AIDS for youth.
Abstract
This report was requested by President Clinton and written after numerous interviews with youth who are affected by this epidemic as well as professionals who are involved in HIV research, prevention, and care. The report concludes that 1 in 4 new HIV infections in the United States occur among people under the age of 21, and HIV/AIDS does not discriminate by gender, geography, or sexual orientation. It recommends that a concerted effort be made by parents, community leaders, policymakers, schools, and youth to communicate to America's youth that they have worth and that the decisions they make now can affect them for the rest of their lives. Further, unless education and prevention programs are made available and accessible to youth, they will continue to be at risk for HIV. The report further advises that the lack of access to HIV counseling and voluntary testing for youth is a major barrier to prevention and treatment. It also suggests that adolescents must become a more significant part of the research process, and they are an important resource in the Nation's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The goals the Federal Government has established to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic that affects youth, as well as the methods that have been proposed to achieve them, can be an example for States, regions, and communities across the Nation. Other ways are recommended for the Federal Government to address the needs of adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS.