For Release:
   June 13, 2001

For Further Information Contact:
Dennis McGowan
609-984-7160

Commissioner Grant Urges Partnerships
To Help Families, Children Affected by HIV

SCOTCH PLAINS - New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services Christine Grant urged 100 social workers, health care professionals and clergy today (June 13) to collaborate to create new services and identify existing resources that will help families and children affected by HIV.

Commissioner Grant made her remarks at a statewide forum "The HIV-Affected Child in New Jersey: Making the Invisible Visible. The forum was sponsored by the Department of Health and Senior Services and the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children. It was hosted by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ).

"While much progress has been made in the 20 years since the first HIV case was reported, there are still families and children who are falling through the cracks," said Commissioner Grant. "These are children who are left without a traditional family structure because a family member has died of AIDS, or children who are struggling to meet the demands of every day lives, including health, education and religious issues, while helping a sick relative.

"This forum will bring these problems to light, and through brainstorming, develop solutions for this population group. And that can only be done by collaboration and partnerships of private and public sectors."

The Commissioner's remarks are at www.state.nj/health.commiss/speeches.htm