Perinatal and pediatric HIV program
Perinatal and pediatric HIV services
The Perinatal and Pediatric HIV Program at Children’s Minnesota provides specialized HIV services, including medical consultation and care, perinatal care coordination, and HIV family medical case management. The program also offers mental health support to enhance the
health and well-being of our clients and their families. Most services are offered regardless of medical care site.
Medical consultation and care
We provide physician consultation to medical providers on the care and treatment of HIV-infected and at-risk pregnant people and HIV-exposed and HIV-infected infants, children and youth. Experienced infectious disease physicians provide medical care to HIV-exposed infants and HIV-infected infants, children and youth up to 24 years of age.
Perinatal care coordination
We provide specialized care coordination for HIV-infected and at-risk pregnant people and their partners during pregnancy and for up to 6 months following birth for the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. Referrals are accepted during pregnancy, at labor and delivery, and after birth. Services are voluntary and provided at no cost to the family. Nursing care coordination includes:
- Coordination of medical care and HIV transmission prevention treatment
- Care provided according to the latest HHS Panel on Treatment of HIV-Infected Pregnant Women and Prevention of Perinatal Transmission guidelines
- Development of an individualized delivery plan
- Coordination of medical care and screening for HIV-exposed infants
- Health education and risk counseling for clients and their partners (including, perinatal transmission prevention, medication adherence, breastfeeding avoidance, HIV disease progression and treatment, intraconception care, pregnancy planning, reproductive health care, PrEP-ception, risk reduction counseling for sero-discordant couples, and others)
- General psycho-social support
- Clinical consultation and education to medical providers on the care and treatment of HIV-infected pregnant people and HIV-exposed infants for the prevention of vertical transmission of HIV
- Access to specialized perinatal medical case management services and other medical case management providers
HIV family medical case management
Coordination of medical care and support services for families with HIV-infected pregnant people, children and youth (up to 24 years of age). Medical case management focuses on the whole family, and includes:
- Coordination of and access to specialty and primary medical care and treatment
- Access to basic needs, transportation, health care coverage, school and education services, immigration services, community resources, baby and school supplies, etc.
- Health education and risk counseling on HIV disease progression and treatment, medication adherence, sexual health, healthy child development, parenting support, disclosure of HIV status, adoption issues, and others
- Individual and family mental health assessment and support, including referrals for more intensive mental health services and neuropsychological testing
- Transition of youth to adult HIV care
PrEP
HIV prevention counseling and support, including PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) for adolescents and young adults ages 15-22. Services include:
- Risk reduction counseling and safer sex supplies
- Regular Medical visits including comprehensive sexual health education and screening
- Referrals to additional resources, including sexual, chemical and mental health care
- Support with health insurance and co-pay assistance program navigation
Contact us
Medical consultation:
Dr. Farah Cassis-Ghavami, Program Medical Director, through Children’s Physician Access, 612-343-2121.
Perinatal care coordination services:
Tracy Jackman, Perinatal HIV Nurse Coordinator, at 612-387-2989.
Referral forms can be faxed to Tracy at 612-813-6770. Please include a signed release of information form for your health care organization.
HIV family medical case management, provider education, PrEP referrals, and general information:
Alissa Fountain, Program Coordinator at 651-226-8211.