DOCUMENT RESUME ED 377 426 CG 025 814 TITLE AIDS/HIV Education Information for Foster Care Youth and Guidelines for Implementation by Local Social Services Departments. Report of the Department of Sccial Services to the Governor and the General Assembly of Virginia. House Document No. 34. INSTITUTION Virginia State Dept. of Social Services, Richmond.; 1 Virginia State General Assembly, Richmond. House. PUB DATE 94 NOTE 39p. PUB TYPE Legal/Legislative/Regulatory Materials (090) Reports Descriptive (141) Tests/Evaluation Instruments (160) EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Adolescents; Children; Child Welfare; *Community Information Services; Education; Educational Objectives; Elementary Secondary Education; *Foster Care; *Foster Children; *Health Education; *Social Services IDENTIFIERS *Virginia ABSTRACT Research shows that young people are under-informed about the risk of contracting AIDS. This document originated with a legislative directive that AIDS/HIV education guidelines be developed for families caring for foster children under the age of 16. Summarized are the efforts of a work group, comprised of state and local employees, foster parent trainers and foster parents representing the Virginia Foster Care Association as they compiled information and discussed its dissemination. The report includes an HIV/AIDS Education Information packet which employees also deve: ped. The document consists of four major sections: an introduction, which includes the study's purpose, background, objectives, and methodology; a segment on departmental recommendations for distribution of the HIV/AIDS information to the targeted groups; a chapter with options for implementation by local social services departments; and a final chapter which presents costs associated with program implementation and which includes budget estimates. An appendix holds the HIV/AIDS Education Information packet which was designer.' to give foster parents discretion and flexibility in determ;ning when to share information with youth based on a child's age and current knowledge. Also included are copies of the state resolution which engendered this study, the survey instrument, and a local agency plan and reply form for HIV/AIDS education. (RJM) *************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************************************************************** REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ON AIDS/HIV EDUCATION INFORMATION FOR FOSTER CARE YOUTH AND GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION BY LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS **PERMISSION TO REPPODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY 5. i-Ekl TO THE GOVERNOR AND TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office 0 Educat.onat Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER IERICI TMs document has been reproduced as received from the person or ofigatfizat.on ongmating .1 C Knor changes have been made to .morove reproduction (wards, Points of new or OPomons stated in tms..trxu. went do not necessarily reoreser OEM 00StiOn Or ool.cy HOUSE DOCUMENT NO. 34 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA RICHMOND 1994 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLE ? t (.?" 14,17t4V-to ER ROW BUILDING LARRY D JACKSON: ST BROAD STREET 11111 COMMISSIONER tv1OND. VIRGINIA 23219-1849 COMMOWEALTH of VIRGINIA (804) 692-1944 FOR HEARING IMPAIRED. VOICE TDD DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES 1-800-552-7096 December 17, 1993 TO: The Honorable Lawrence Douglas Wilder Governor of Virginia and The General Assembly of Virginia The 1993 General Assembly, through House Joint Resolution 680, directs the Department of Social Services "to develop AIDS/HIV education guidelines for use by local social services departments for foster families with children under the age of 16 in their care" and to determine whether "local soda; services departments should be required to implement the guidelines." HJR 680 also directs the department to recommend the means of establishing this mandate "if mandatory implementation by local social services departments is determined to be appropriate." In addition, the legislation directs the department to "provide budget estimates for any additional services or programs which may be required." Enclosed for your review and consideration is the report with an appendix that includes an HIV/AIDS Education Information packet and Local Agency Guidelines that were prepared in response to this request. The materials were developed with assistance from staff from the Virginia Departments of Health, Education, local departments of social services foster care staff, foster parent trainers and fester parents representing the Virginia Foster Care Association. Cordially, s-1) Jackson Larr Co missioner VSIti 3 1. qual ()pportutuir ,1 gem:: ..1 n TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Number EXECUTIVE SUMMARY vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION I Purpose 1 Background 1 3 Study Objectives 3 Methodology 4 Organization of the Report HIV/AIDS EDUCATION INFORMATION PACKET H. FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE 5 Overview of Content 6 How the Materials were Developed Reaction to Information Packet by 6 Survey Respondents OPTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION BY LOCAL SOCIAL HI. SERVICES DEPARTMENTS (LOCAL AGENCIES) Overview of Guidelines to Local Agencies for Implementation 9 Reasons to Support a Voluntary Implementation Plan Over a Mandatory Plan 11 14 Recommendations IV. IMPLEMENTATION AND BUDGET ESTIMATES Implementation Local and State Responsibility 15 Budget Estimates HIV/AIDS Education Information Packet 15 HIV/AIDS Regional Education Training 16 APPENDICES A. House Joint Resolution 680 B. HIV/AIDS Education Information Packet Survey Instrument C. D. Local Agency Plan and Reply Form for HIV/AIDS Education 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY "AIDS Awareness and Prevention is Essential to the Health and Safety of Every Child in this Commonwealth." The 1993 General Assembly requests through House Joint Resolution 680 that the Department of Social Services "develop AIDS/HIV education guidelines for use by local social services departments for foster families with children under the age of It also directs the department to determine whether, upon 16 in their care." development of these guidelines and, if necessary, approval by the Board of Social Services, local social services departments should be required to implement the In addition, HJR 680 further directs the department to recommend the guidelines. means of establishing this mandate if mandator, implementation is determined to be appropriate. In response to the legislative directive, a work group was formed that consisted of representatives from the state departments of Social Services, Health and Education, local departments of social services foster care staff, foster parent 1111111M trainers and foster parents representing Currently, for AIDS "there is the Virginia Foster Care Association. no cure, there is no vaccine, This report summarizes the processes the work group used to develop an there is only education." information packet and arrive at (AIDS Quarterly, PBS, February 1, recommendations for distribution. 1990) Included with this report is the 111111111MIMIIMMIIIIIII HIV/AIDS Education Information packet that was developed. HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus which breaks down the body's immune system and causes AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. HIV can be found in the blood, semen, vaginal secretions or breast milk of an infected person. The immune system fights off infections and certain other diseases. When the immune system fails, common illnesses such as colds may become life- threatening. Currently, for AIDS "there is no cure, there is no vaccine, there is only education" (AIDS Quarterly, PBS, February 1, 1990). According to the Virginia Department of Health, from May 1982 through August 11, 1993, 4,665 cases of AIDS have been reported in Virginia, of which 1,170 were reported this year. The number of cases projected for all of 1993 is 1,800. The total reported in 1992 was 748. The appreciable increase noted this year is because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded the case definition for AIDS effective January 1993. Among the 5,131 cases of HIV infection reported from July 1989 through August 11, 1993, 2,060 (40 percent) belong to the 30-39 year age group; the number in the 20-29 year age group is a close second at 1,892 or 37 percent. As of Spring 1993, more than 850 people aged 20-29 have been diagnosed with AIDS in Virginia. Because a person can be infected with HIV for 10 or more years before symptoms appear, a significant number of these young II Teenagers r -'main unconvinced people would have been infected as they can get AIDS by having teenagers. Experts agree that teens sex and injecting drugs...We must convince them are at higher than average risk of contracting HIV because of their otherwise." Dr. Grayson Miller, unpredictable and often risky behavior. Virginia Department of Health. Well documented research shows that young people are under-informed about the risk of contracting AIDS. In an appearance (August 1993) before the General Assembly Subcommittee studying AIDS, Dr. Grayson B. Miller, Director, Office of Epidemiology, Virginia Health Department and others said many teenagers remain unconvinced they can get AIDS by having sex and injecting drugs...Young people often consider themselves immortal. Dr. Grayson said, "We must convince them otherwise." (DAILY PRESS, August 27, 1993). The only effective weapon in the fight against the spread of HIV infection is prevention. AIDS education is a subject that is covered in the Family Life and Health Education curriculum in most Virginia schools. Recognizing, however, that some youth in Foster Care tend to change locations frequently and may not receive the information when it is presented in school, the General Assembly Subcommittee studying AIDS determined that a plan needs to be developed to assure AIDS education for youth in foster care. The Department of Social Services through the Independent Living Program under Foster Care services provides AIDS education and prevention information to youth aged 16 to 21. However, the General Assembly Subcommittee studying AIDS said that "AIDS awareness and prevention is essential to the health and safety of every child in this Commonwealth." Consequently, the committee directs the department to provide AIDS education information to every youth in foster care, not just those aged 16-21 years old. ii The work group developed an HIV/AIDS Education Information packet The information packet is for foster families and the youth in designed to give foster their care by using materials parents sufficient basic recommended and made available information to prepare them by to begin a discussion staff from state agencies for with health and youth about HIV/AIDS and its education. To determine the method prevention. most feasible for assuring that the illformation was given to foster families, a survey of local agency workers and administrative staff, foster care trainers and foster parents was conducted. The packet is designed to give foster parents sufficient basic information to prepare them to begin a discussion with youth about HIV/AIDS and its prevention. The packet design allows foster parents discretion and flexibility in determining when to share information with youth based on a youth's age and current knowledge. Following are the materials directed to foster parents, with optional use for youth in their care, as well as to the birth children of the foster parents: 1. Letter to Foster Parents (explains the need to provide the HIV/AIDS information to youth); 2. Talking with Young People About HIV (a guide for starting a conversatior i); 3. Common Questions, Accurate Answers (factual questions and answers about HiV/AIDS); 4. Proper Way to Use a Condom; and 5. Sexual Abuse Information...Every Child's Basic Safety Knowledge. The education information packet is completed with the enclosure of three brochures containing age-appropriate information directed specifically to youth in the following age groups: 6. AIDS Prevention Information for Children Aged 4-6; 7. AIDS Prevention Information for Youth Aged 9-12; and 8. AIDS Prevention Information for Youth Aged 13-19. iii necessarily require assistance from an The brochures are easy to read and do not adult to read or understand. plan for disseminating the Each local agency will be asked to voluntarily develop a who provide foster care for HIV/AIDS Education Information packet to families plan is to include a statement youth in the custody of the agency. The agency's packet and other that encourages foster parents to utilize the information youth in their care about information available about HIV/AIDS to talk to the identify how it will disseminate the HIV /AIDS and its prevention. The agency is to be provided on education information packet and identify training that may combination of the HIV/AIDS by selecting one of the four options that follow or a four options: distributing At a minimum, the local agency plan may consist of OPTION 1. providing care for the information packet to all foster parents youth in the custody of the agency. The packet encourages foster parents to talk to youth in their care. the This plan should include a tracking system that will enable shared with agency to document that the information was will foster youth. The plan should also state how the agency disseminate the HIV/AIDS information. Add to Option 1 Optional Training. Offer training to foster OPTION 2. HIV/AIDS and its parents about how to talk with youth about prevention. Training may be part of the agency's pre-service foster (training that occurs before a child/youth is placed in the after family home) or the in-service training (training that occurs the child,'youth is placed). Agencies that do not have estaNished pre-service or in-service training for foster parents may choose to develop a training program for HIV/AIDS prevention. Add to Option 1 Mandatory Training. The agency can choose OPTION 3. families to mandate HIV/AIDS education training for all providing foster care for youth in the custody of or placed by the agency or Family Assessment and Planning Teams (Comprehensive Services Act for At Risk Youth and Families). Other. The local agency may determine another plan not OPTION 4. described by the department. iv 0 Since other education issues and prevention information for foster parents are not mandated it would appear that mandating this one issue, HIV/AIDS education, would be an unnecessary regulation. Developing guidelines for local agencies A voluntary plan would lessen to use and then encouraging local the concern of local agencies agencies to develop a voluntary plan of additional work without for implementation of the HIV /AIDS additional funds. education information keeps with the focus .of the Comprehensive Services Act for At Risk Youth and Families (CSA). Under the Comprehensive Services Act localities are allowed choice in implementation of services to youth and families within a broad framework for the provision of services. Since the HIV/AIDS education information is packaged and ready for distribution minimum preparation and planning is demanded of the local agency. In addition, a voluntary plan would lessen the concern of local agencies of additional work without additional funds. RECOMMENDATION 1. The department should print copies of the HIV/AIDS Education Information packet and make them available for local agencies to distribute to foster parents. RECOMMENDATION 2. Local agencies should be strongly encouraged to develop a plan to disseminate the HIV/AIDS Education Information packet to foster families with children and youth in their care and to offer training for foster parents about HIV/AIDS through local agency pre-service and in-service training programs or other training set-up by the agency to meet this need. RECOMMENDATION 3. The department should provide HIV/AIDS education training for foster parents and agency workers in the five department regions to support local training programs expanded or set-up to met this need. RECOMMENDATION 4. To fund recommendation #3, the department should allocate $30,000 using Title IV-E funds ($22,500 federal doi!ars and request $7,500 for the state match).