Social Work Essay

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Introduction “HIV/AIDS is a complex infection that warrants an aggressive and holistic approach to management and treatment. While a diagnosis of HIV infection today may not carry the imminent fear of death that is has in the past, for many HIV-infected people, it does mean a restricting of their lives to face the future. They must contend with uncertainties, not only in relation to health status, but also with regard to financial security, alterations in relationships, and discrimination, all of which may impact quality of life” (Buseh, Kelber, Stevens & Park, 2008, p. 409). According to Peterson and Jones (2009), “The HIV/AIDS epidemic has exacted a devastating toll up upon Black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States, and …show more content…

Given the high incidence of HIV/AIDS and the rapid spread of the pandemic over the last two decades, the social work profession should take an active stand to mitigate the overwhelming psychological and social effects” (National Association of Social Workers, 2015, p.155). NASW supports prevention and education; social work education on HIV/AIDS; service delivery, care, and treatment; and political action and advocacy. Professional cooperation with existing HIV and AIDS educational, treatment, and research organizations to develop and implement programs that include educational and prevention strategies that meet the needs of all segments of our society (2015, p.155). According to NASW, education of all social workers so they are knowledgeable about behavioral strategies to prevent the transmission of HIV, including safer sex and harm reduction (2015, p.155). For service delivery, care, and treatment NASW supports, “elimination of the inequities of obstacles in access to medication, clinical trails, and HIV care specialists; or services that ensure psychological, social, cultural, and economic well-being” (2015, p.156). National Association of Social Workers (2015) policies demonstrated that increasing the awareness of funding and grants through policies, related to state and local treatment programs will ensure better care for African American men living with HIV/AIDS (2015, p.

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