Adolescent Initiative
![Happy teenage girl with long brown hair on grey background](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_150_3x2_1100x733_1x/public/2024-05/Photo-Hero-AdolMedicine-2624x1720-v01.jpg?itok=_-GAnww6)
Adolescents and young adults at risk for or infected with HIV are the focus of the Adolescent Initiative at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Through an integrated system of community outreach, clinical and preventive care, research and training for those at risk, we help bring adolescents and young adults (ages 12 through 24) into an environment where they can feel comfortable receiving healthcare.
CHOP's clinic provides comprehensive primary and HIV specialty care.
Youth at risk for or with HIV often come with multiple psychosocial problems, such as basic subsistence issues, disclosure, housing, stigma, mental health issues and lack of social support. We provide adolescent-focused, intensive case-management interventions to meet these challenges.
We offer youth affected by HIV mental health, cognitive and depression screenings, ongoing individual counseling, and intensive psychiatry assessments and follow-up.
How we serve you
Our aim it to treat youth who are HIV positive — meeting both their medical and emotional needs — and prevent the infection of others through comprehensive preventive services targeted to those most at risk. There have been great advances in the treatment of HIV in recent years. We help youth in our care find the treatment that works for them and develop strategies so they can stick with it.
![Child and mother smiling talking with medical professional](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_150_3x2_160x107_1x/public/2024-04/Photo-Default-Team-Doctor-Talking-Child-Mother-2624x1720-v01_0.jpg?itok=nhpnTpay)
Meet your team
Our team of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, peers and mental health professionals creates a seamless continuum of service and care.
![Architectural detail of outside of building](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_150_3x2_160x107_1x/public/2024-03/Photo-Default-Locations-Building-Exterior-2624x1720-v01.jpg?h=ed76bfaa&itok=CvXz3nSY)
Our locations
The Adolescent Initiative clinic is held at Specialty Care, Market Street. Look for us at community events.
![Smiling CHOP patient holding shopping bag](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100_160x160_1x/public/2024-06/Photo-Foundation-Shop-for-Chop-Become-Partner-Hero-2624x1720-v01.jpg?h=b840d9cf&itok=b_4zmn0L)
Our research
The Adolescent Initiative clinic is nationally recognized as a center for research. Our adolescent-specific research findings will help us better understand trends in HIV infection rates and develop effective treatments for adolescents infected with HIV.
Your donation changes lives
A gift of any size helps us make lifesaving breakthroughs for children everywhere.
![appreciative mom hugging her son](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_150_3x2_160x107_1x/public/2024-04/Photo-Donate-AdolMedicine-2624x1720-v01_0.jpg?itok=ovYFHRmV)