HIV / AIDS Program

There are many families in Florida with children whose lives have been touched by HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus). The Children's Medical Service's (CMS) HIV Program provides services to babies, children and teens that have, or have been exposed to HIV.

Through CMS, eligible children can receive a variety of services to help promote and improve healthy lifestyles and living with HIV including:

• medical evaluations and treatment
• social services
• care coordination
• nutritional counseling

Educational programs are available to children and their families to learn more about HIV and issues specifically related to children and families where HIV has touched their lives.

These services are provided by a network of highly respected medical care and referral centers as well as community based clinics around the state. The HIV Referral Centers are located in Gainesville, Jacksonville, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami.

CMS nurse care coordinators and social workers, located in 22 CMS Area Offices around the state, help families coordinate the complex medical care required by these children. This care includes services such as scheduling appointments, obtaining medicines, and providing educational resources to children and families.

Eligibility

Children under the age of 21 years that have been exposed to, or have HIV are eligible to participate in the HIV Program. To be enrolled in the CMS Network, children must meet the clinical and financial eligibility criteria mandated by Florida Statutes.

To find out if you are eligible to receive care from the CMS HIV/AIDS Program, contact your child's primary care provider or your local CMS office.

Resources

• CMS statewide offices
• HIV Referral Center/CMS HIV Clinic Directory
• University of South Florida's Dept. of Pediatric Infectious Disease
• UF Health Science Center Rainbow Center for Women, Adolescent, Children & Families