HIV/AIDS Fact Sheets & Abstracts

Many clients are living with chronic illnesses, ranging from diabetes or HIV/AIDS to high blood pressure and mental illness.  The common thread is the need for consistent and successful medication treatment.   The challenges faced by many clients include poverty and limited resources, and lack of access to information or the affects of stigma and discrimination.

Work with people who have both mental health and substance abuse concerns and/or diagnoses is a common and difficult challenge for those working on the front lines of HIV prevention and care. Efforts to help clients or patients access treatment and care often are met with challenges from the very service delivery systems in place to provide care.

Discriminating against people who are infected with HIV/AIDS or anyone thought to be at-risk of infection violates individual human rights and endangers public health. Every person infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS deserves compassion and support, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their infection. Education is crucial in getting this message out.

People living with HIV/AIDS may qualify for the following disability benefits provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA): Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This booklet serves as a resource guide for social workers and other care providers to assist clients with determining eligibility and applying to these federal programs.

NASW recognizes the wide range of issues that affect women and girls, and is committed to advancing the health and mental health well-being of women and their families, both in the United States and globally.

The NASW HIV/AIDS Spectrum: Mental Health Training and Education Project participated in the bi-annual meeting of the Mental Health HIV Services Collaborative (MHHSC). The MHHSC Programs are funded through a federal grant, and are designed to address unmet mental health treatment needs of individuals living with HIV/AIDS who are African American, Hispanic/Latino and/or from other communities of color.