Making the Connection: Health and Student Achievement Office of Healthy Schools

HIV Basics Mississippi Department of Education HIV/AIDS Program Office of Healthy Schools 359 North West Street, Suite 230 Jackson, MS MSDE HIV/AIDS Program

Purpose To ensure that the 152 school districts provide current and updated information about HIV/AIDS to staff and students.

Link to other programs Wellness Policy – commitment to Comprehensive Health Education Title IV – support programs in schools that support programs that prevent illegal use of alcohol and drug use Character Education 2006 MS Comprehensive Health Framework – Disease Prevention Strand (ensures that all students receive necessary health information to make age appropriate decisions EPSDT / School Nurse Program – school nurse practices Preventing epidemics and spread of communicable disease Provide Health Education Distribute age appropriate health information

Funding Opportunities $5,000 grant awarded to 5 school districts in high risk areas as determined by Mississippi Department of Health Actively collaborating with other state agencies Seeking addition funds from outside sources

Key Points HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. AIDS is the result of HIV infection. HIV infection can be prevented. HIV is not spread through everyday casual contact. People cannot get HIV when they give blood. Source: American Red Cross HIV/AIDS Program: HIV Education and Prevention MSDE HIV/AIDS Program

HIV Infection People infected with HIV--- May look and feel health for a long time. Can infect others even if they don’t look or fell sick. May have symptoms that are like those of many other illnesses. When people develop AIDS, they may get illnesses that healthy people usually don’t get. Only a test can show if someone is infected with HIV. Only a doctor can diagnose AIDS. Source: American Red Cross HIV/AIDS Program: HIV Education and Prevention MSDE HIV/AIDS Program

How HIV is Not Spread HIV is not spread through everyday casual contact. Source: American Red Cross HIV/AIDS Program: HIV Education and Prevention MDE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM

How HIV is Spread HIV is spread--- By having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person. By sharing needles or syringes with and infected person. During pregnancy, birth or breast feeding from an infected mother to her baby. Body fluids of an infected person that spread HIV: SemenVaginal fluid Blood Breast milk Source: American Red Cross HIV/AIDS Program: HIV Education and Prevention MDE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM

HIV Testing People who think they are at risk of HIV infection are encouraged to seek counseling and testing. Do not donate blood to get tested for HIV. Source: American Red Cross HIV/AIDS Program: HIV Education and Prevention MDE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM

Blood Supply The risk of getting HIV from a blood transfusion in the U.S. is extremely low. All blood donors are screened for their risk of HIV. All donated blood is tested. All blood that tests positive for signs of HIV is destroyed. Source: American Red Cross HIV/AIDS Program: HIV Education and Prevention MDE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM

Universal Precautions What are Universal precautions? MDE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM

Universal Precautions Universal precautions are work practices that help prevent contact with blood and certain other body fluids. Universal precautions are: Your best protection against HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), hepatitis B and some other infectious diseases. Required in certain jobs. Can help prevent illness and save lives—including your own! MDE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM

How Universal Precautions Work Certain infectious diseases are caused by viruses. For example: AIDS is caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV attacks the body’s natural defense against disease. Hepatitis B is caused by HBV (hepatitis B virus). Hepatitis C is caused by HCV (hepatitis C virus). HBV and HCV attack the liver and can result in severe illness—even death. MDE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM

HIV, HBV and some other viruses are spread through certain body fluids, including: blood (or any fluid containing visible blood) semen vaginal secretions fluids surrounding the heart, lungs, brain, stomach, joints, and tendons; fluids in the womb of a pregnant woman. How Universal Precautions Work cont. MDE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM

Preventing Infection Universal precautions help prevent infection through the use of: protective barriers, such as gloves, gowns, masks and goggles safe work practices, such as proper disposal of sharps and proper hand washing. MDE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM

Statewide Available Resources HIV/AIDS Service Organizations: Building Bridges, Inc. – Jackson, MS South MS AIDS Task Force – Biloxi, MS Medications: Ryan White Program Financial Assistance: Episcopal AIDS Commission Social Security Administration Medicaid Housing Assistance: HOPWA Grace House MDE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM

Available Resources cont. Hotlines: MS HIV/AIDS Information Hotline Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National AIDS Hotline Capacity Building Assistance Services and Training: MS State Department of Education Office of Health Schools Jackson State University MS Urban Research Center My Brother’s Keeper Community REACH Project MDE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM

Office of Healthy Schools Charles R. Orr, Sr., HIV/AIDS Program Coordinator Shane McNeill, Director, Office of Coordinated School Health Regina Ginn, Director, Office of Healthy Schools Phone: Fax: