Children Of Parents With Aids example essay topic

SO CW 2361 Research Project 4-04-02 Research Question: How does a child cope with the loss of a parent who suffered from AIDS: Introduction: This research study will show the challenges that children face when dealing with the loss of a parent due to the AIDS virus. The sources for the research have come from the Tarrant County College Resource Center, online internet sites, and an interview with a social worker, Rebecca Wright, from the AIDS Outreach Center Youth Services Program. Abstract: These studies determine the living situations of children before and after the parents' death. It reports on how families have begun adopting children whose parents have dies. It focuses on the idea that orphaned children could grow into dysfunctional adults and further destabilize society. there are several initiatives taken by the government of the United States to help these children. It explains what stand-by-guardianship's are, and how they are used as a method of allowing people who are chronically ill to deal with their children in permanency planning while they are still alive; and implications for foster care.

It shows the relevance of the findings to school social workers. There is a discussion of how the legal system and the social service system can resolve the conflict. Losing a family member to AIDS can be a devastating experience, losing a parent to AIDS can be even worse. Today, as the AIDS epidemic becomes increasingly problematic in the United States, there is much focus placed on the individuals who die from the disease every year and the families who are forced to cope with the tragedy. While many loved ones are affected by the loss, the children who lose their parent to AIDS are most dramatically affected by this epidemic. (Helping Children Cope) When parents are first diagnosed with AIDS, they must make a decision whether to tell their children about their health status.

Most parents disclose their illness to their children. These children then must cope with the stigmatization and grief concerning their parents life threatening illness and their anxiety of their own well fare. One issue is the mental health of children. Parental death reduces children's self esteem and increased depression, anxiety, conduct disturbance, academic, somatic complaints and suicidal acts over the long term.

Adolescents had significantly higher de ression in the severity of effect of a parent's illness. School is often the first place where the behavioral and emotional problems of HIV affected children and adolescents are exhibited. Researchers note that when HIV affected children are acting out their most disturbing emotions, their behavior confuses and distracts parents, teachers, and case managers, who are "so preoccupied with the surface behaviors that they are unable to address the underlying emotional issues involved" (Draimin et al., 1999). According to Michaels &Levine, "the HIV-AIDS epidemic has been responsible for the creation of a new large and especially vulnerable group of youth whose mothers have died of complications" (3, p 3,459). To help children and adolescence cope, the United States government has implemented HIV intervention programs that have shown to have been successful. Bereavement reactions of children and adolescents are very strongly influenced by the dynamics of social attitudes before parental death and the grieving process, and for AIDS mourners, we have no models or socially prescribed roles (Dane, 1994).

Instead, AIDS stigma generates secrecy and isolation in the lives of HIV affected families. Disclosure is a lifelong process, not only coming to terms with the condition, but it's medical and social implications. Parents report that deciding whether or not to disclose their HIV diagnosis to their children is just as emotional as learning of the diagnosis. Discrimination happens because of the ignorance of HIV. Children lose friends because of the parents being HIV+. They get teased and called names; therefore, the child, if told about the parents illness, keeps it a secret.

This inability to express openly feelings about parent's death or illness may result in the child feeling socially isolated. Faithful (1997) suggested that the discrimination and stigma will lead to a "disenfranchised grief" and the loss becomes unspeakable. Melvin and S herr (1995) remind us, "our understanding of issues for children are embryonic... the burdens of secrecy bereavement and illness may weigh heavy on young shoulders". This is why so many parents choose to keep their HIV status a secret from their children. They feel that they are protecting their children from rejection from their peers and questions about death. Research has shown that children of parents with AIDS are at higher risk for long term negative outcomes if they do not make custody plans.

Children bereaved by sudden, unexpected parental loss demonstrate more negative outcomes than children who have been prepared, and the legal complications are greater. (American Journal of Public Health).