Parenting for women living with HIV, parenting of those living with HIV, or both, involves two different life courses which are living in parallel and have their own unique needs – but these have paths are dependent upon each other across the life course. Parenting is complex and we acknowledge that this can encompass difficult family situations, be financially challenging, and could include parenting children intergenerationally or not biologically related to you. Family communication, coordination of multiple people’s care, and interacting with various systems are all important considerations for you as a parent. Finding community and support from family, friends, and peers will help empower you as you navigate these multiple paths of parenthood.
For parents living with HIV and/or parents of individuals living with HIV, key considerations include:
- HIV Stigma
- Talking to your children about HIV: HIV awareness for Children
- Care and Treatment for Children living with HIV
- The 5 w’s of sharing your story
- How to navigate school and friends
- Family communication
- Parental and child support networks and age-appropriate resources
- Financial concerns/long-term planning
- Parenting is complex:
- May be parenting as a parent living with HIV
- May be parenting a child/ren who is living with HIV
- May be both experiences
- May not be parenting a child you birthed
- Intergenerational parenting
- Permanency planning and temporary guardianship
- Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, Pleasure, and Justice
- Thinking and planning ahead: life insurance, power of attorney, child custody, living will, etc.
- State-specific, targeted efforts to recruit LGBTQIA and single parent foster care/adoptive parents
- Supports for children with special needs