The role of families in preventing and adapting to HIV will be the topic of an all-day conference in San Diego on Wednesday. More than 250 local treatment providers are expected to take part.
Nearly 18,000 San Diegans have been infected with HIV or AIDS. Conference organizers say family members can play an important role in encouraging low-risk behaviors, and caring for people who are sick.
Dr. Sheri Kirshenbaum is with Jewish Family Service in San Diego. She says at the conference, workshops will pair national researchers with local community-based providers.
"So we'll be able to take the evidence-based research and brainstorm the ways in which some of these skills and practices can be used here in San Diego," Kirshenbaum says.
Kirshenbaum says the conference will also explore ways to heighten HIV awareness in African-American and Latino communities.
