HIV-positive children adopted increasing numbers

“I can’t think of a more significant way to make an impact than to do this,” said Margaret Fleming, a 74-year old mother of nine adopted children including three who are HIV-positive. “These kids are in many ways, the modern day lepers.”

The challenges are all the normal ones of raising a child plus a few extras like getting them on a medication routine and deciding how, when and to whom you reveal their health status. There are special considerations. Among them are lingering prejudice and fear from people they come in contact with, normal sexual curiosity of a teenager, and prospects for creating a family as an adult.

Still, the number of parents adopting these kids is growing. Most adoptions are of kids from other countries where access to health care may be minimal and the risk of neglect leading to early death is very real.

Throughout most of the AIDS epidemic, there were strict US immigration policies that limited entry to any one with HIV. In January of 2010 this policy changed. Children who are HIV-positive can enter the country as easily as any other children.

Last February, Bethany Christian Services, the largest US adoption agency, started using an education packet about the joys and challenges of adopting HIV-positive children. It has been boost. “We didn’t feel we could ethically place these kids without some really solid education for these families,” said Sara Ruiter, international services coordinator.

And now that parents can see the reality of life with an HIV-positive child and decide if the challenge is for them, many are answering the call and helping to bring these children a better and fuller life.

Source: AP, Bethany Christian Services