ABSTRACT
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has been viewed as endemic to the Black community and has been spoken of as the most controversial disease in modern histoiy. The family members of these acute sufferers often fail to receive the kind of support necessary to maintain the vigilance required in this debilitating struggle. This is especially true for Black families, which are usually underrepresented in studies and are unserved or underserved by those providing services to this client group. Black Americans constitute only 12 percent of the US population but account for nearly 30 percent of the reported AIDS cases. Black families, which are already socially isolated by society fear even greater isolation within the Black community by having an HIV/AIDS-infeeted member in the home. For Black families that are living in crowded conditions and on public assistance, meeting the medical obligations of AIDS members creates extreme economic hardship.
