Abstract for presentation at Global Social Work 2004

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The “window of opportunity” for the effective educational effort, to prevent HIV/AIDS at-risk behaviors, appears to be between the ages of 5 and 14. (Muraah, W. M. and Kiarie, W.N. HIV and AIDS, p. 26) In developing countries, most children, who get the HIV virus from their mothers at the time of birth, will die by the age of 5, and most children do not begin to be sexually active until the age of 12 or 13. World Bank statistics show that “50% of all the new HIV positive cases occur in people 15 to 24 years of age.” The behaviors they adopt now and those they maintain throughout their sexual lives will determine the course of the epidemic for decades to come.” (AIDS Epidemic Update: December 1998, UNAIDS: Geneva, p. 13)

The overall goal of the Stay Alive program, as measured by pre-post instruments, is to make a difference in the life of each child who participates: an increase in consequential thinking and family communication skills, empowerment, and hope. In order to accomplish these objectives, each child receives the complete program (eight lessons), including the discussions with the parent or guardians.

Family members have a great responsibility and must be an integral part of this remediation program. “If we expect to really make a difference in the fight against AIDS, we must involve the family unit. Any AIDS prevention program will only be sustainable if it becomes a part of everyday life,” UNAIDS Executive Director, Peter Piot.(XIV International AIDS Conference, Barcelona: 7-12 July 2002)

Social Work students are thoroughly screened in-country and trained in the local language, culture and customs of each venue. They are involved in the pre-assessment and planning in each school and/or village system, give the eight lessons, including activities, and review the pledges, teach the songs and present the roleplay activities in which the students participate. The four country post-program evaluation results, supervised by the university liaison, and the results that have informed subsequent presentations are also explained, along with the extent to which the program has been disseminated to date.