About Pediatric aids chicago prevention initiative
Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative: A Beacon of Hope for Children with HIV/AIDS
Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative (PACPI) is a non-profit organization that has been working tirelessly since 1988 to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and provide comprehensive care and support services to children, youth, and families affected by HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area. PACPI's mission is to ensure that all children living with or affected by HIV/AIDS have access to the highest quality medical care, social services, education, and advocacy.
PACPI's History
In the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the United States, there was little hope for people living with this deadly disease. The stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS was overwhelming, and many people were ostracized from their communities. Children born with HIV faced even greater challenges as they were often abandoned by their families or placed in foster care.
In 1988, a group of concerned parents whose children had been diagnosed with AIDS came together to form PACPI. Their goal was simple: to provide support and resources for families affected by pediatric AIDS. Over the years, PACPI has grown into a leading organization in the fight against pediatric AIDS.
PACPI's Programs
PACPI offers a wide range of programs designed to meet the unique needs of children living with or affected by HIV/AIDS:
1) Pediatric Care Coordination: This program provides comprehensive case management services for children living with or at risk for contracting HIV.
2) Early Intervention Services: This program provides developmental assessments and interventions for infants and toddlers who have been exposed to or infected with HIV.
3) Youth Services: This program provides support groups, educational workshops, mentoring programs, and recreational activities for youth ages 13-24 who are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
4) Family Support Services: This program provides counseling services, financial assistance programs (such as emergency rent/mortgage assistance and utility assistance), and educational workshops for families affected by HIV/AIDS.
5) Advocacy: PACPI advocates for policies and programs that support the needs of children living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
PACPI's Impact
Since its inception, PACPI has made a significant impact on the lives of children living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area. Some of their accomplishments include:
1) Reducing mother-to-child transmission rates from 25% to less than 1%.
2) Providing care coordination services to over 3,000 children living with or at risk for contracting HIV.
3) Providing early intervention services to over 500 infants and toddlers who have been exposed to or infected with HIV.
4) Providing youth services to over 400 young people ages 13-24 who are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
5) Providing family support services to over 1,000 families affected by HIV/AIDS.
6) Advocating for policies that support the needs of children living with or affected by HIV/AIDS at the local, state, and national levels.
PACPI's Future
Despite significant progress in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and improving access to care for people living with this disease, there is still much work to be done. According to UNAIDS, there were approximately 38 million people worldwide living with HIV in 2019. In Illinois alone, there were an estimated 44,000 people living with diagnosed or undiagnosed HIV in 2018. Of those individuals, approximately one-third were not receiving medical care for their condition.
PACPI remains committed to its mission of ensuring that all children living with or affected by pediatric AIDS have access to high-quality medical care, social services, education, and advocacy. With continued support from donors and volunteers alike, PACPI will continue making a difference in the lives of those impacted by this disease.