Information & Resources for Employees'/Workers' Families
Employee family education is a logical—and necessary—step in a comprehensive
HIV/AIDS workplace prevention program. A family aware of the risks of HIV is better able to avoid infection, and therefore is more likely to stay healthy. Preventing HIV infections among family members is vitally important. Family education is a key component of the Business Responds to AIDS/Labor Responds to AIDS (BRTA/LRTA) Program as it targets a new generation of young people who need to learn the basic facts about this disease.
The Facts
HIV infection doesn't just happen. People don't simply "catch" it like a cold or flu. Unlike cold or flu viruses, HIV is not spread by coughs or sneezes, sweat, or tears. HIV is not spread through everyday contact with infected people at school, at work, at home, or anywhere else. What's more, people infected with HIV and those with AIDS can use your help. If you know someone who has HIV or AIDS, you can give compassion, friendship, or other help.
People who are infected with HIV but not aware of it are not able to take advantage of the therapies that can keep them healthy and extend their lives, nor do they have the knowledge to protect their sex or drug-use partners from becoming infected. Knowing whether one is positive or negative for HIV confers great benefits in healthy decision making.
Even if you don't know anyone who is infected, you can join your community's effort to stop AIDS. You can volunteer your time with a local health organization, youth group, or religious group that has an HIV and AIDS program. Or you can contribute just by telling your friends about HIV. You just may save someone's life.
Sharing Information with Family and Friends
If protecting yourself is your first priority, then protecting your family and friends is also very important. Share the facts about HIV and AIDS with the people you love. Doing so may help save their lives.
- Confront and correct misinformation about HIV and AIDS.
Speak up when family and friends don't know the facts. Help them find the information they need by telling them about CDC HIV/AIDS resources and materials.
- Encourage education efforts.
Activities may include distributing brochures and pamphlets on HIV/AIDS or organizing an education program or local activity.
- Work with your religious leaders to promote compassion and support for people living with HIV and AIDS.
Support those religious leaders who are working to help educate their communities about HIV.
- Start a service program.
Members of your congregation, school groups, friends, and family members can work with a local HIV/AIDS group to provide meals, transportation, housing, errands, etc., to people with HIV infection or AIDS.
- Find out whether local schools have comprehensive health education programs.
Schools can play an important role in educating young people about HIV and AIDS. As a parent, grandparent, or concerned citizen, you can work with administrators, school boards, and parent-teacher associations to support or start educational efforts.
- Urge educators to involve parents, grandparents, and other supportive adults when developing an education program that covers children and HIV.
Parents should have input into what topics are taught, which issues are suitable for which grade, and what materials are developed.
- Encourage programs that feature teens teaching other teens about health issues.
This approach is called peer-based education and has been shown to be an effective way for teens to learn.
- Ensure that the program also addresses drug and alcohol prevention.
Under the influence of these substances, family members may put themselves at risk for HIV infection as well as other STDs.
- Participate in World AIDS Day (December 1) activities and other local events .
For more information, call the Business and Labor Resource Service at 1-877-242-9760 or learn more about HIV/AIDS Awareness Day events.
- Raise funds for community-based organizations that serve people with HIV and AIDS. Local organizations serving people with HIV and AIDS always need funds.
- Volunteer with community organizations. Organizations need drivers, cooks, people to help care for pets, housekeepers, errand-runners, people to help fill out paperwork, speakers, etc. An hour each week or a few hours per month can make a tremendous difference.
