Service needs of male caretakers of HIV-infected and affected children: policy and practice implications.

The number of male caretakers (biological fathers and other men) of HIV-infected and affected children is substantial and may increase in the US and elsewhere as more women become infected. Little information exists about the needs these men have for support services to help them better perform their parenting roles as male caretakers (MCs). This paper discusses the service needs of MCs at Ryan White CARE Act Title IV programs, the challenges providers at these programs face in serving MCs, and the strategies they have found effective in working with MCs. Providers report that MCs have specific service needs including the need for emotional support. Title IV programs meet these needs in a limited way because they are organized primarily around the needs of female rather than male caretakers. We discuss how Title IV programs can tailor existing service delivery and implement organizational change to facilitate MCs' service access and utilization. Further research directly with MCs is necessary to learn more about their service needs and the barriers MCs face in accessing services.