Spiraling Upward: The Re-doubling Benefit of Family-centered Care

Programming for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) primarily works at the household and community level. These programs often work to remove the stressors that inhibit the development of child affected by HIV. In order to make the most of case management and other services provided by OVC programs, programmers should recognize the long-term contribution that OVC programs can and do make in both the lives of children and their caregivers. This paper proposes that OVC programs utilize their regular contact with households and communities in order to also educate caregivers on medical services and tests that are available to them, as well as their children, leading to known HIV status among all members of the household. Additionally, case managers could also monitor medication adherence among all members of household- potentially preventing the early loss of a parent and improving the child’s home environment.