SR0090 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0090 LRB099 06169 MST 26227 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Youth ages 13 to 24 accounted for an estimated 26% of all new HIV infections in the United States in 2010; this is particularly concerning as they only consist of 17% of the country's population; and

WHEREAS, Almost 60% of youth infected with HIV in the United States are unaware that they are infected; and

WHEREAS, HIV-positive youth need support for medication adherence and self-care; without these skills, the health and the lives of HIV-positive youth are in jeopardy, especially due to the difficulty of staying on a medication regiment; and

WHEREAS, HIV-positive youth need secondary prevention services to prevent the spread of the virus to others; this may include education, partner communication skills, and disclosure; and

WHEREAS, HIV-negative youth who are at risk need primary prevention services to protect themselves from HIV infection; and

WHEREAS, Many youth fear the stigma of HIV, and have experienced discrimination and isolation from friends, family, or professionals (such as doctors and teachers) if their status is known or even suspected, and they are in great need of supportive services; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the children who are taken into the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS); and

WHEREAS, There are no statutes or administrative rules for DCFS to address the issue of supportive services for HIV-positive youth and young adults; and

WHEREAS, DCFS lacks a proactive program of HIV prevention information, education, and services for its wards; and

WHEREAS, DCFS should provide education for department staff, foster and adoptive parents, and private agency staff concerning HIV prevention for at-risk youth and services to those who are HIV-positive; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we call upon the Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of Public Health to collaborate and devise policy recommendations regarding HIV supportive services and prevention education for HIV positive and at-risk youth at the Department of Children and Family Services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That at least 2 representatives from these 2 departments shall work together on a report of policy recommendations, and they shall call upon the expertise developed by community-based HIV service providers, researchers, and educators as they see fit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the 2 departments shall submit copies of their report to the Illinois General Assembly and the Office of the Governor no later than January 31, 2016.