In December 2013, The Center for HIV Law and Policy (CHLP) submitted these recommendations to the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) on its draft of Sexual and Reproductive Health Care for Youth in Foster Care, released in the fall of 2013. CHLP’s specific recommendations include: offering timelier and more comprehensive health screenings and appointments upon entry to care and on an ongoing basis; ensuring STI and HIV pre- and post-test counseling, testing, and treatment for youth in care; conducting more thorough assessments of youth’s sexual health knowledge and sexual histories; improving discharge planning to avoid interruption of sexual and reproductive health care for youth transitioning out of care; and selecting and/or developing comprehensive, LGBTQ-inclusive curricula for sexual and reproductive health training sessions for agency staff, foster parents, and youth. Lastly, CHLP offers to work with the ACS Division of Policy and Planning and Measurement on the implementation of these recommendations, as needed.
CHLP fights stigma and discrimination at the intersection of HIV, race, health status, disability, class, sexuality and gender identity and expression, with a focus on criminal and public health systems. As part of this work, we support movement building that amplifies the power of individuals and communities to mobilize for change rooted in racial, gender and economic justice. We do this through legal advocacy, high-impact policy initiatives, and creation of cross-issue partnerships, networks, and resources.
