In 2003, the Kings County Hospital Center referred a five-year old, HIV-positive girl to CAMBA for services from our COBRA Case Management Program. At the time of her referral, the child was living with her aunt because her mother and brother were still living in Haiti. The aunt, who worked full-time, was supporting the girl with minimal assistance from the public benefit system. The COBRA team started by enabling the girl to obtain Social Security disability benefits, as well as benefits from the City’s HIV/AIDS Services Administration. Staff also helped the aunt manage the challenge of balancing the need to accompany her niece to medical appointments with her obligations to her employer.
Several years later, the child’s mother and brother emigrated from Haiti to New York City. Both were diagnosed with AIDS and were referred to the Kings County Hospital Center for medical care. The brother, who was 17 years old, reacted to the news of his diagnosis with anger and rebellion. COBRA staff connected him with counseling and escorted him to his appointments until he demonstrated the ability to attend on his own. Today he is enrolled in ESL classes and he is receiving mental health services from Kings County Hospital.
In addition to connecting the family with mental health and educational services, the COBRA team helped them to negotiate the public benefits system and to obtain suitable housing.
Today, the little girl is ten years old and engaged in a medication regimen that is working well for her. The COBRA team recently referred her to the Make A Wish Foundation and her wish was approved. As a result, she and her family took an all-expense paid vacation to Walt Disney World. They enjoyed the trip immensely and appreciated the opportunity to travel. The family is now stable and doing very well.