Camp Laurel - HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS

DANCE MARATHON
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

The need for Camp Laurel’s programs is tremendous, as the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to touch the lives of thousands of children and youth in the United States.

The following statistics illuminate this fact:

6,809 new HIV/AIDS cases were diagnosed in 2007 for youth under 25 living in the US. [1]
Half of all new HIV infections in the US occur in youth under 25. [2]
As of 2004, 7,761 young people were living with AIDS in the US, a 42% increase since 2000, when 5,457 young people were living with AIDS. [3]
As of 2008, California ranked 2^nd highest among the 50 states in cumulative reported AIDS cases. [4]

These statistics do not address the thousands of affected children and youth who have an HIV+ parent or sibling. While HIV/AIDS is often considered a “gay disease”, it has an immense impact on women, especially women of color, who often have children. Additional statistics show:

Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. [5]
83% of women diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 2005 were women of color.
While African Americans make up 12.8% of the population, 66% of women who were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS were African American.
The rate of new HIV infections among black females aged 13 to 29 is 11 times higher than that of young white females. [6]
14% of women who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS areHispanic.
HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women aged 25-34. [7]
HIV/AIDS is the third leading cause of death for black women aged 35-44.
HIV/AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death for Hispanic women aged 35-44.

In light of the above, it is not surprising that most families participating in Camp Laurel’s programs are African American and Latino. Women (particularly women of color) living with HIV/AIDS are also more likely to live in poverty, which makes them more dependent upon public assistance for medical and social services. Sadly, HIV/AIDS services across the nation have seen deep cuts, with the most significant reductions to social services. As a result, many family and youth focused programs for those living with HIV/AIDS have cut their budgets so extensively they have either gone out of business or have had to open their services to other populations (e.g. foster youth, children with other illnesses) to keep operating. For youth living with HIV/AIDS (infected or affected) there are also significant social, psychological and emotional challenges[8] that must be overcome, despite improved treatments that allow HIV+ individuals to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

Camp Laurel continues to thrive with a renewed commitment to the growing needs of children and youth living with HIV/AIDS.

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report: Cases of HIV Infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas,” 2007.

[2] “Youth and HIV/AIDS 2000: A New American Agenda,” Office of National AIDS Policy, Washington, D.C., White House, 2000, http://www.thebody.com/content/art37.html (accessed April 5, 2010)

[3] CDC, “HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2004. Vol 16, Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services”, 2005.

[4] “California – 2008 Profile,” National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, 2008, http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/stateprofiles/pdf/california_profile.pdf (Accessed April 5, 2010)

[5] CDC, “HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2004. Vol 16, Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services”, 2005.

[6] “HIV Among Black Youth Fact Sheet,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website, March 2010, http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/HIVamongBlackYouthFactSheet-FINAL-508c.pdf (accessed April 5, 2010).

[7] “WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Reports, 1999-2006,” National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Website,
April 2009, http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/leadcaus10.html (accessed April 5, 2010)

[8] Close, Kristin L., L.M.S.W. “HIV Curriculum for the Health Professional: Psychosocial Aspects of HIV/AIDS, Children and Adolescents,” Baylor AIDS International Pediatric Initiative, January 2010, http://bayloraids.org/curriculum/files/complete_web.pdf (accessed April 5, 2010).

Camp Laurel - A Camp for Children Living with HIV and AIDS