Since first opening its doors in 1990 by founder

Since first opening its doors in 1990 by founder Charlotte Barbey-Morel, MD, Georgetown’s chief of pediatric infectious diseases, the program has provided complex medical care to hundreds of area children infected with HIV. Because of a unique partnership between the Children’s Charities Foundation and the Casey/Teeley Community Pediatric HIV/AIDS Support Fund, the program expanded its services in 2007 with the addition of Osherow. Now,the foundation has extended its significant grant for two additional years, allowing Osherow and Dr. Barbey-Morel to continue this vital work.

In December a few years ago, we took our daughter Rosa for her well-visit to her pediatrician,Casey explains. The nurses had put up a Christmas ‘giving tree’ to provide presents for pediatric patients at Georgetown. The names of children were hanging on the tree and there were lots of children without a donated gift. Pete and I decided to help. We discovered that many of the kids were teens affected by HIV.

We talked with Dr. Barbey-Morel about the needs of the pediatric HIV patients and developed a program to support a family services coordinator and create a fund to cover additional expenses the families may have. Happily, we were able to fund the program through a joint effort between our family foundation and the Children’s Charities Foundation.

In just two years, the results have been striking, Teeley says. The support services the program has been able to provide have improved the health status of many of the children involved.

Dr. Barbey-Morel gives much of the credit for this improvement to Osherow. Janet practices a different kind of social work,she says. Most of the time, you won’t find her behind a desk. She is out in the community,visiting homes and working with families. The children understand that she is there for them. And I sleep better at night because she is here.

Dealing with HIV is difficult for children and especially hard for teenagers, Osherow says. No teen wants to feel different, and these kids have the extra burden of a secret they don’t feel comfortable sharing. As a result, they can feel isolated and depressed. They often have difficulty complying with the treatment regimen. That’s when the program team intercedes.

Sometimes, I will talk with them every day more than once, when they are in crisis,says Osherow. A crisis can mean anything from a family death to an overdue electric bill. The program staff finds the resources to help.

The team also has created support groups safe havens where children, siblings and caregivers can talk freely and make friends. During the last two summers, more than 20 children have spent a week away at Camp Heartland in Wisconsin, one of the nation’s first camps to serve families affected by HIV/AIDS, which Osherow helped create nearly two decades ago.Others have attended the Heartland Youth Retreat, where they learn skills to apply for jobs or college admission, or get their GED.