HIV Clinic

At the Bill Holt Pediatric and Adolescent HIV Clinic, we prioritize all-inclusive care for our patients. Whether you’re a young person seeking information about HIV for yourself or you’re a parent or caregiver seeking care for a child, we treat you confidentially and respectfully. We serve:

  • Newborns and older babies exposed to HIV because their mothers have HIV
  • Babies, children and teens who have already tested positive for HIV
  • Children and teens who have experienced a potential exposure to HIV (through sexual assault, accidental needle exposure or other incidents)
  • Adolescents and teens who are at risk for HIV – possibly due to sexual activity or other risks

If you are pregnant and you’re HIV positive – or think you’ve been exposed – we welcome you to talk with us. We offer important advice about medications and how to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to your baby during pregnancy, delivery and after birth.

The success of HIV treatment has transformed the disease to a manageable condition. Those with the infection now enjoy longer and healthier lives. We offer the latest treatment to children and teens living with HIV. Treatment does not cure HIV, but it helps children and teens stay healthy, lessens the amount of HIV in the body and reduces the risk of transmitting HIV to someone else. We provide medical, nursing and social services. We also educate parents about home care and provide the family with comprehensive support.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) means protecting yourself and reducing your risk of HIV before you come in contact with HIV by taking the medicine regularly. When taken as prescribed, PrEP can reduce the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%. Our HIV Clinic team offers PrEP, along with other preventive options, to young persons who do not currently have HIV but may be at risk of getting HIV through sex or drug use.

Children and teens who’ve just received the diagnosis can start taking an HIV medicine right away. Early treatment leads to a stronger immune system, better overall health and a reduced risk of transmitting the virus to others. Our aim is to get you or your child started on the medicine within a week after the diagnosis.

If you are pregnant and you’re living with HIV – or think you’ve been exposed – our HIV Clinic team welcomes you to talk with us. We offer important advice about medications and how to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to your baby during pregnancy, delivery and after birth. We also offer specialized care and HIV testing for babies after birth. With appropriate care, the risk of HIV transmission from mothers to their babies is 1%.

If a child or a teen has been possibly exposed to the virus through an accidental needle stick, sexual assault or other types of incidents, we offer special medications to reduce their risk of getting HIV. This is called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and it’s extremely effective in preventing HIV if the medication is started within 72 hours after the incident.

Additional Support

Support Groups and Retreats

Through groups, retreats and fun activities, young people with HIV can interact with each other in a positive, supportive environment. Parents and family members can also attend family support groups to share their experiences and to learn from one another.

Community Advocacy

Our team members work closely with community agencies to access and enhance services for patients with HIV and their families and spread the word about HIV prevention and care. We talk to schools and to local youth groups about HIV risk and prevention.

We also partner with Positively You, an online program where young people with HIV can communicate, support each other and learn about low-cost or free medical services. Our HIV Clinic receives support from the Federal Ryan White Part D Program.