Bill Text: IL SR0090 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requests that the Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of Public Health collaborate and devise policy recommendations regarding HIV supportive services and prevention.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2015-04-23 - Resolution Adopted [SR0090 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-SR0090-Introduced.html

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SR0090 LRB099 06169 MST 26227 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Youth ages 13 to 24 accounted for an estimated 26%
of all new HIV infections in the United States in 2010; this is
particularly concerning as they only consist of 17% of the
country's population; and
WHEREAS, Almost 60% of youth infected with HIV in the
United States are unaware that they are infected; and
WHEREAS, HIV-positive youth need support for medication
adherence and self-care; without these skills, the health and
the lives of HIV-positive youth are in jeopardy, especially due
to the difficulty of staying on a medication regiment; and
WHEREAS, HIV-positive youth need secondary prevention
services to prevent the spread of the virus to others; this may
include education, partner communication skills, and
disclosure; and
WHEREAS, HIV-negative youth who are at risk need primary
prevention services to protect themselves from HIV infection;
and
WHEREAS, Many youth fear the stigma of HIV, and have
experienced discrimination and isolation from friends, family,

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

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