HIV/AIDS Social Services and the Changing Treatment Context

This article examines how medical advances of the past decade affect social services for people living with HIV. Data for the study were drawn from in-depth interviews with 59 social service providers in Ontario, Canada. New antiretroviral treatments help many people to live longer and healthier lives with HIV. As a result of the improved health of clients, the focus of much of the work of social service providers has changed from acute health concerns to more chronic social issues. HIV can be just one of many complex issues in the lives of clients living with HIV/AIDS, as workers increasingly confront social problems, such as poverty, inadequate housing, or unavailable drug treatment services. Workers may have little training or experience in dealing with such issues. The article describes how agencies and workers have had to adapt to new practice realities resulting from effective HIV treatments.