Epilogue

Abstract

The primary focus of this book has been interventions that can prove useful in preventing AIDS and assisting persons already affected by the syndrome. The development of effective prevention and service delivery interventions—whether on an individual client, group, or community level—occupies the immediate attention of most therapists, social workers, and health care professionals who work in this area. However, beyond the care of current patients and beyond the development of behavior change strategies to prevent persons from becoming exposed to HIV infection, AIDS also presents challenges at a larger societal level to an extent that is unparalleled in modem times. The manner in which our political, judicial, educational, budgetary, research, and public health systems respond to the AIDS health crisis will determine the quality of health care that is available to persons with HIV illnesses, the quality of their lives, the success of education and prevention efforts, and the pace of biomedical research to prevent and cure HIV illnesses. As devastating as the health crisis has already been, every projection indicates that it will become much worse in all areas of the country and in all areas of the world.