After the second sentence in this subsection, add, Counselors should receive training about the communities with which they work. For effective cultural competence, counselors should understand the particular needs and service access barriers of these communities. Section 5.2 Goals , lines 1300-1302. In addition to access to appropriate medical, prevention, and psychosocial support services, HIV-infected persons also need access and referral to appropriate legal services. Discrimination against HIV-infected persons still is a tragic reality in our society.
Many clients have concerns about child custody, housing, testamentary issues, or insurance coverage.
Clients must understand their legal rights in order to effectively manage their lives and become advocates for themselves. Legal services can assist an HIV-infected person to maintain employment, housing, and health care and add significantly to a person s quality of life. Amend this section to read, Ensure that HIV-infected persons have access to appropriate medical, legal, prevention, and psychosocial support services 8. This section needs to give greater emphasis to legal services, as noted above. In addition, Other Services should include income maintenance.