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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Youth ages 13 to 24 accounted for an estimated 26%
3of all new HIV infections in the United States in 2010; this is
4particularly concerning as they only consist of 17% of the
5country's population; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Almost 60% of youth infected with HIV in the
7United States are unaware that they are infected; and
 
8    WHEREAS, HIV-positive youth need support for medication
9adherence and self-care; without these skills, the health and
10the lives of HIV-positive youth are in jeopardy, especially due
11to the difficulty of staying on a medication regiment; and
 
12    WHEREAS, HIV-positive youth need secondary prevention
13services to prevent the spread of the virus to others; this may
14include education, partner communication skills, and
15disclosure; and
 
16    WHEREAS, HIV-negative youth who are at risk need primary
17prevention services to protect themselves from HIV infection;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, Many youth fear the stigma of HIV, and have
20experienced discrimination and isolation from friends, family,

 

 

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1or professionals (such as doctors and teachers) if their status
2is known or even suspected, and they are in great need of
3supportive services; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is responsible for the
5safety and wellbeing of the children who are taken into the
6Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS); and
 
7    WHEREAS, There are no statutes or administrative rules for
8DCFS to address the issue of supportive services for
9HIV-positive youth and young adults; and
 
10    WHEREAS, DCFS lacks a proactive program of HIV prevention
11information, education, and services for its wards; and
 
12    WHEREAS, DCFS should provide education for department
13staff, foster and adoptive parents, and private agency staff
14concerning HIV prevention for at-risk youth and services to
15those who are HIV-positive; therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
17ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we call upon the
18Department of Children and Family Services and the Department
19of Public Health to collaborate and devise policy
20recommendations regarding HIV supportive services and
21prevention education for HIV positive and at-risk youth at the

 

 

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1Department of Children and Family Services; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That at least 2 representatives from these 2
3departments shall work together on a report of policy
4recommendations, and they shall call upon the expertise
5developed by community-based HIV service providers,
6researchers, and educators as they see fit; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That the 2 departments shall submit copies of
8their report to the Illinois General Assembly and the Office of
9the Governor no later than January 31, 2016.