Family Adolescent and Children’s Experience at SUNY (FACES)

The Family Adolescent and Children’s Experience at SUNY (FACES), designated as a Center of Excellence in Pediatrics by the New York State Department of Health, is dedicated to providing exceptional health care to Brooklyn’s women, infants, children, adolescents and their families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.  FACES is the oldest (since the early 80’s), most experienced, and highly specialized pediatric/adolescent HIV clinic in Brooklyn that provides comprehensive treatment and supportive services to infants, children, adolescents and young adults who were infected with HIV perinatally.  Through the auspices of the Research Foundation of the State University of New York FACES operates as one large comprehensive program, and although certain pieces of the program are funded specifically by different grant sources, the program is viewed as one complete program in which all of our combined funding from HRSA/ RW Part D and the NYSDOH AIDS Institute helps to support our multidisciplinary approach to serve HIV infected women, infants, children, and youth.

Currently FACES is comprised of 23 staff members (70% Female, 30% Male, 39% Caucasian, 49% Caribbean –Afro-American, 9% Hispanic, and 4% Asian) which include leadership/ administrative as well as clinician level staff.  80% of both the administrative and medical staff has worked within the AIDS service delivery field for more than 6 years and have extensive experience in providing the highest standards of care for persons infected /affected by HIV/AIDS.  FACES provides comprehensive primary medical care, mental health, case management, treatment adherence, health education, nutritional services, support groups, access to clinical trials for pregnant women, children and adolescents, assistance with transportation to medical visits, 24 hour on-call service and consultations and referrals to Downstate Medical Center- University Hospital of Brooklyn (DMC-UHB) for all other subspecialties, and co-location of services (treatment and family services) facilitates the provision of HIV treatment to patients and their families in situations where separated care would be burdensome or undesirable. 
           
Under its previous name, the Brooklyn Pediatric AIDS Network, the FACES Network has served people with HIV in Brooklyn since 1991.  The Network’s administrative center and core clinical program is located at DMC-UHB.  As the core clinical program/ lead agency for the Network, FACES is recognized for its leadership in setting clinical standards of care for HIV infected, affected and at risk women, infants, children, youth and families.  FACES partners with other HIV programs serving HIV+ women, infants, children and youth at several other Brooklyn hospitals and community based organizations.  These partners are: 1) Health Education Alternatives for Teens (on- site at DMC-UHB); 2) the Brooklyn Hospital Center PATH Program; 3) the Treatment for Life Center -Brookdale Hospital Medical Center; 4) the Paul Paroski, Jr. Family Center/Woodhull Mental and Mental Health Center; 5) St. Vincent’s Services for Children/Positive Caring Services; 6) the Primary Care Clinic/Interfaith Medical Center; 7) Long Island College Hospital’s - HIV Services Program; 8) Life Force: Women Fighting AIDS, Inc.; and 9) Unity Fellowship Church/Breaking Ground.  The clinical sites (1-7) provide comprehensive medical care, mental health, case management and support services to the target population.  The CBOs (8-9) provide outreach and HIV counseling and testing to the target populations at risk for HIV.  The FACES Network clinical partner sites provide comprehensive medical, mental health, case management, treatment adherence, reproductive health, outreach, support services and access to clinical trials for pregnant women, children and adolescents across Brooklyn.  As noted our 2008 RW/ HRSA RDR report, the FACES Network served 981 clients (54.5% HIV infected females, 27.5% HIV infected males, 10% HIV affected females, 8% HIV-affected males; 78% Black, 19% Latino, 3%White; 39% had household incomes equal to or below the Federal poverty level and 21% non-permanently housed; 71% receive Medicaid; the largest age group is from 13-24 years).  In addition, 8643 individuals were reached through case finding /outreach activities.  For more information contact Derrick B. Weekes, FACES Network Executive Director at 718-270-3826 or Derrick.Weekes@downstate.edu

Derrick B. Weekes, Program Administrator
Family, Adolescent and Children's Experience at SUNY
Executive Director - FACES Part D Network
450 Clarkson Avenue - Box 49
Brooklyn, NY 11203
Tel: (718) - 270 - 3825
Fax: (718) - 270 - 1368
FACES.SUNY@Gmail.com
Derrick.Weekes@downstate.edu