Ryan White and National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day

Twenty-six percent (26%) of new HIV cases in the U.S. are among young people (ages 13-24), according to CDC. Cases are overwhelmingly among gay/bisexual men, particularly African Americans. While more and more youth living with HIV are being linked into care, over 50% who are HIV infected do not know it and, by default, are not in care.

The role of this HIV/AIDS Awareness Days, therefore, has heightened importance to not just raise sensitivity to HIV/AIDS but to encourage young people to adopt safer practices, get tested, and--if infected--engage in care.

Youth Served by Ryan White

As the generations pass, it seems that fewer people are aware that the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program was named after Ryan, a young man who fought AIDS discrimination in the early years. He died 25 years ago, about the time the legislation was enacted.

The Ryan White program has since created a rich history as an important provider of care to young people like Ryan. According to HRSA's State Profiles, 6.1% of Ryan White clients are under age 24.

Tailoring HIV/AIDS Services for Youth

This site's topic page on Adolescents and YouthExit Disclaimer presents a collection of clinical practices, protocols, and tools to help programs more effectively serve young people. Below are highlights:

• Improving Engagement and Retention in Adult Care Settings for LGBTQ Youth Living with HIV: A Guide for Adult HIV Health Care ProvidersExit Disclaimer. This resource explores issues unique to gay/bisexual/transgender youth and provides insights for adult HIV providers in caring for young patients.
• Engaging Hard-to-Reach Populations: Empowering the PatientExit Disclaimer. This webinar, which covers care engagement strategies for young people, is one of the tools developed by IHIPExit Disclaimer, a collection of curricula and training materials on tested and proven HIV strategies identified by HRSA's Special Projects of National Significance.
• Transitioning HIV+ Youth From Adolescent to Adult Care: Adolescent Provider ToolkitExit Disclaimer. This document discusses transitioning youth to adult care and also explains how toset up and supervise a program for young adult leaders on self-management and life skills. In the same spirit, Moving on PositivelyExit Disclaimer is a toolkit with steps for transitioning youth to adult care.