NewsAIDS Committee of Toronto Summer 2010

VOLUNTEER ISSUE

ACT Newsletter | 2

We’re proud of our volunteers.Since our founding in 1983, the AIDS Committee of Toronto

(ACT) has been driven by volunteers. From our first board of

directors to our buddy program to the hundreds of outreach

volunteers, our work depends on the energy, effort and

knowledge of people in the community who donate their time

to support people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Last year, ACT volunteers contributed 22,824 hours helping

to deliver our programs and services. With so much of our

work depending on their contributions, we want to ensure the

best possible volunteer experience.

We support our volunteers through skills training, ongoing

support, and this year we completed a volunteer satisfaction

survey to identify ways to improve our volunteer opportunities.

WANT To volunteer with act? Get in touch with us!

SERGIO

BOBBY

Sergio MartinezProgram Volunteer Resources Manager

Sergio has been with ACT for over 10 years, and in his current role he supports volunteers delivering our support services and education programs.

He facilitates the Core Skills Training program for new volunteers and staff, which outlines key concepts from active listening skills to cultural competency. The training, which runs over several weeks, brings in experts on HIV/AIDS and other subjects to provide volunteers of ACT and the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation with the most up-to-date information on a variety of topics.

If you want to contribute to ACT programs as a volunteer, you can contact Sergio at smartinez@actoronto.org or 416-340-8484 ext. 224.

Bobby HrehorukDevelopment Volunteer Coordinator

Bobby has been with ACT for three years, first starting in the Development Department as Finance Officer.

He now coordinates volunteer activities for all ACT fundraising initiatives, from the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life to the annual SNAP! photographic art auction. He also works with third parties organizing fundraising events for ACT.

If you would like to volunteer in the Development Department to help raise funds for ACT, get in touch with Bobby at bhrehoruk@actoronto.org or 416-340-8484 ext. 255.

ACT Newsletter | 3

ACT Volunteer

Satisfaction and

Experience

“Observing the growth of support group participants provides great personal satisfaction.”

“I love, love, love all the training!”

48% proportion of respondents between the ages of 40 and 59.

27% of respondents were women.

65% respondents who identify as gay or lesbian.

53% proportion of respondents who identify as HIV-negative.

18% respondents who are on disability support.

27% of respondents contribute more than 14 hours per month of service.

43% have volunteered with ACT for more than four years.

“Volunteering with ACT offers opportunities for personal achievement.”94% of respondents agreed.

“Volunteering with ACT programs and services helps me develop and maintain social relationships.”

75% of respondents agreed.

“Volunteering with ACT offers opportunities for professional growth.”67% of respondents agreed.

“I received adequate training from ACT.”93% of respondents agreed.

“[Core Skills training was] a journey of learning and

self-discovery.”

ACT Newsletter 4ACT Newsletter | 4

Community Health Forums were introduced 10 years ago as a way of keeping our service users informed in a rapidly changing landscape where information about treatment and living with HIV/AIDS seems to change on a daily basis.

Over the past year, the program has seen many improvements, from a move to a more suitable venue to a dramatic increase in attendees.

Robin Rhodes, HIV Health Promotion Coordinator at ACT, attributes the program’s success to the input of

community members, who consistently provide feedback on what information people with HIV/AIDS need to know.

The forums have also touched on social issues, and in the past year attendees learned about issues such as the recent increase in criminalizing HIV non- disclosure, especially in Ontario.

To learn more about the program or find out about the next forum, get in touch with Robin at rrhodes@actoronto.org or 416-340-8484 ext. 219.

ACT c eleb r at es 1 0 y ea rs o f b r i n g i n g t h e lat est H I V/A I D S n ews to t h e c o m m u n i ty.

in partnership with

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2008-09 2009-10ATTENDEES

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“It’s a more meaningful way to give back to the community that is appreciated by the people you

help. I’ve been doing this for five years and it’s really rewarding to see the same clients.”

“The effects of my five-year exposure to the ACT vibe have been immense. The love and support I have

encountered has helped transform the old me into a motivated, spiritually strong, happy, and healthy

person. I am less judgmental. Working with ACT gives me the greatest thrill I could have with my clothes on.”

WINSLOW

ACT Newsletter | 5

Strateg i c Pla n 2 01 0-2 01 5 U PDATE

Dear supporters of the AIDS Committee of Toronto,

Every few years, ACT develops a stra

tegic plan to identify our organizational priorities

and develop a roadmap to achieve our short and long-term objectives.

With our current strategic plan expiring, we will la

unch our next five-year plan at our

2010 Annual General Meeting on September 27. (Your ACT membership must be

submitted or renewed by August 27, 2010 to vote at the AGM. For more information,

visit www.actoronto.org/membership or call 416-340-8484 ext. 279.)

Earlier this year, we conducted stakeholder consultations to seek input before developing

our new plan. We’ve been thrilled with the response – almost 400 of our service users,

community members, volunteers, partner agencies and people living with HIV/AIDS

responded to our survey!

In addition to this feedback, we conducted an external environmental scan to help us

consider current and expected shifts in the economic, political, and health environments

that would influence our work. We have also held a number of small group discussions

with several stakeholders.

We are thankful for all the suggestions we received from the community

about the things we could do over the next five years to improve the

health and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS and at risk for

HIV in Toronto.

The next steps in the process will be putting this information

together and formulating new strategic priorities that will guide

our work over the next period. We invite you to see our new

strategic plan at our Annual General Meeting in September.

I look forward to seeing you there,

Hazelle Palmer

Executive Director

“Continue to be innovative and responsive both to the changing

demographics of the populations in need of services, and to new issues that arise that demand

more attention.”

“Keep the public focused on HIV/AIDS as a critical issue.

Continue to keep the issue of HIV/AIDS visible and continue

to fight for the rights of HIV-positive people.”

“ACT’s location is central, but work could be done to refurbish/upgrade/change the current (office) space

to make it nicer and a more inviting space.”

“ACT needs to figure out who it can serve well, and not try to be everything to

everyone.”

In 2009, ACT undertook a comprehensive needs assessment to gauge the use of existing library services among a broad range of people. This study assessed current patterns of library use, identified potential library users as well as barriers to library services, and identified new mod-els and tools to guide the library function for the benefit of its many and varied stakeholders.

The assessment indicated a strong desire to have more information available online, and access to in-demand information such as educational resources and guides, with content covering a wide range of issues related to sex, health and wellbeing (i.e. issues related to but not restricted to HIV/AIDS such as sexual health, return-to-work and career issues, social assistance). Based on these findings,

ACT’s library services have been phased out as we explore new models of information provision. Our offices will continue to provide access to some resources, including those produced by ACT. Access to books (both circulating and reference), audio-visual materials, periodicals and journals ended May 1, 2010.

We have donated library materials to the following organizations, and will continue to distribute materials to groups that have expressed interest.

LIBRARY

is happy to announce the arrival of a new project for HIV-positive women from

African, Caribbean and Black communities in Toronto, funded through a grant from the M•A•C AIDS Fund.

Positive Work for Positive Women is a partnership project led by ACT in collaboration with the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention, Africans in Partnership Against AIDS, and Women’s Health in Women’s Hands.

This innovative program will start by providing hands-on skills training to 40 women living with HIV that will help them find and retain employment. Some of these women will be recruited to participate in a training project to start their own micro-business, receiving one-on-one support from a Business Developer as well as a small startup grant.In addition to helping HIV-positive women enter or

re-enter the workforce, Positive Work for Positive Women will address issues of self-esteem, independence and quality of life – all of which can be barriers for women living with HIV trying to enter the workforce.

The M•A•C AIDS Fund (MAF) was established in 1994 by M-A-C Cosmetics to support men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS globally. This project is just one of many the MAF will support through $2.5 million in grants to support women living with HIV/AIDS around the world.

For more information about this program, contact the project coordinator Nadia Bello at nbello@actoronto.org or 416-340-8484 ext. 223.

POSITIVE WO RK FOR POSITIVE WOMEN

PROGRAM UPDATES

ACT

For more information visit: actoronto.org/library

CATIE (Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange)Canadian Lesbian and Gay ArchivesRainbow Health Ontario/Sherbourne Health CentreAIDS Bereavement Project of OntarioScott Library, York UniversityUniversity of Ontario Institute of Technology Library

ACT Newsletter | 6

NADIA

ACT Newsletter | 7

In fall 2009, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, through its AIDS Bureau,

announced approximately $1 million in new provincial funding to establish Women and HIV/AIDS Community Development Coordinator positions in key communities across Ontario. These coordinators would be responsible for facilitating a pro-active community response to women’s HIV prevention needs, including outreach to local agencies and participation on local planning committees. While the main focus of these positions would be to build the capacity of local organizations to respond to women and HIV/AIDS concerns, there may be times when the coordinators will help connect women living with HIV/AIDS with services of local AIDS service organizations (ASOs).

The AIDS Bureau established an advisory committee of key ASOs to provide some guidance on

the activities of the initiative. ACT has been part of the advisory committee since its inception.

One of the advisory committee’s first recommendations was to conduct an environmental scan that would help to: define what organizations within and outside the AIDS service sector in Toronto provide services to women living with, affected by, and at risk for HIV/AID; identify gaps in programming as well as strengths, provide indicators for the development of a more precise job descriptions for coordinators to work in the Toronto area and address local needs.

The AIDS Bureau recently announced that funding for the Toronto Women and HIV Initiative will be given to ACT.

Reactions from our community partners has been extremely positive and ACT looks forward to working with them closely as we take on this new and exciting new intiative.

Wo m en’s Co m m u n ity D ev elo pm ent

PROGRAM UPDATES

I N

ACT’s Moves Program on HoldFor more than 10 years, ACT has offered a moves program to assist people living with HIV/AIDS who are financially unable to relocate to new housing.

Effective immediately, the program will be suspended temporarily to explore new funding sources. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to clients and community partners.

ACT Newsletter 8

For many members of the Latin American community who are HIV-positive, navigating a safe return to work has been a challenge.

Often, Spanish-speaking newcomers with limited English language skills are forced into work situations where they experience exploitation. Miguel Cubillos is a job developer with ACT’s Employment Action program who wants to change that. Originally from Colombia, he saw a need within the community and designed a pilot project, with the assistance of Latinos Positivos, to help clients that may not have the level of English language skills that clients normally require to access Employment Action. “Half the battle is people understanding their rights,” Miguel says. Before clients are accepted into the

Spanish-speaking program, they complete a workshop that addresses issues such as the rights of employees at work. Many are seeking entry-level jobs, but the long-term plan is to shift these job-seekers into the regular Employment Action pre-employment counselling program once their language skills improve. Although this is currently a pilot project, preliminary results show that 50% of clients have already secured employment, and improved their English skills. Employment Action continues to think outside the box when it comes to employment, resulting in high rates of job satisfaction and retention from its innovative programs.

ACT Newsletter | 8

ACT PILOTING NEW EMPLOYMENT PROJECT FOR SPANISH-SPEAKING NEWCOMERS

Miguel Cubillos, Employment Action

F

ACT volunteer Robert Nemeth receives an award for 20 years of service.

ESTA DE NOVO NEW RESOURCES FROM ACT AND VIVER FOR THE PORTUGUESE-SPEAKING COMMUNITY

ACT Newsletter | 9

Happy 5th Anniversary, Out N' Poz!

Through a collaboration between ACT and VIVER (the Portuguese-speaking HIV/AIDS Coalition), new resources are available to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in the Portuguese-speaking community.

A “Safer Sex Menu for HIV Transmission” (Menu do Sexo para a transmissão do HIV/VIH) and an STI Educational Guide (Guia Educativo das Doenças Sexualmente Transmissíveis DSTs) have been developed by Portuguese-speaking Men’s Outreach and are now being distributed in the community.

These two resources provide important information about HIV transmission, testing and treatment, living with HIV/AIDS, as well as information about other sexually transmitted infections.

Just in time for World Cup season, we also distributed posters featuring soccer players with the message that safer sex is everybody’s responsibility, no matter who you’re having sex with.

For more information or to request copies of these resources, please contact Andre at portugues@actoronto.org or 416-340-8484 ext. 242.www.actoronto.org/portugues

Founded in April 2005 with just 15 members, Out N’ Poz has grown to an over 200-strong social network of people living with HIV.

“We are a social group where people who are HIV-positive can get together in a safe and friendly environment without fear of stigma or discrimination,” says Patrick Chevalier of Out N’ Poz.

From diagnosis to medications, members of the group share stories and strategies to help each other living with HIV, or just share some social time without having to hide their HIV status.

ACT is proud to support Out N’ Poz as it continues to offer social support to people living with HIV/AIDS.

PYO is looking for alumni of the program who want to participate in

a 20th anniversary party on September 16, 2010, at the 519

Church Street Community Centre. For more information, e-mail

Jessica at pyo@actoronto.org

Positive Youth Outreach

a program of

20

Happy 20th Birthday, Positive Youth

Outreach!

Menu

do Sexo Seguro

Menu

Menu do Sexo Seguropara transmissão de HIV/VIH

2010

Menu

do Sexo Seguro

No matter who you play with, play safely.

Safer sex is everybody’s responsibility.

NÃO IMPORTA COM QUEM VOCÊ JOGA

JOGUE COM SEGURANÇA

SEXO SEGURO

É RESPONSABILIDADE DE TODOS

www.actoronto.org/portugues 416-340-8484 ext. 242 Funded b

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doenças se xualmente transmissive i sGUIA EDUCATIVO

proteja-se e proteja seus parceiros

A nossa missão: O VIVER promove programas e servicos de prevenção, advocacia, conscientização sobre o risco de contrair VIH/HIV e ou SIDA/AIDS, reconhecendo e respeitando as diversidades e diferenças culturais e lingüística das comunidades de expressão portuguesa em Toronto. Surgiu em 15 de Maio de 1997, de uma reunião pública sobre SIDA/AIDS, organizada pela St. Stephens Community House, na qual participaram funcionários de serviços sociais portugueses, pessoas infectadas com VIH/HIV, SIDA/AIDS, e outros membros da comunidade. Nesta reunião foi identificada uma lacuna nos serviços em português sobre esta doença. Também foi identificada a necessidade de aumentar o contato com a comunidade, e desenvolver a educação para pessoas de língua portuguesa.

Agradecimentos:Obrigado aos membros do VIVER e aos funcionários do ACT que participaram no desenvolvimento deste projeto. revisão editorial: André Ceranto Designer gráfico: Marcelo Ferreira

Este livreto foi subsidiado pelo Ministerio da Saude e dos Cuidados de Longa Duração de Ontário. "Ministry of Health and Long Term Care of Ontario"

Produzido em 2009

AIDS Committee of Toronto399 Church Street, 4th floor . Toronto, ON Canada M5B 2J6www.actoronto.org/portugues

ACT SYPHILIS CAMPAIGN SPREADS!In the wake of a significant increase in syphilis infections amongst gay men, ACT has partnered with the provincial Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance (GMSH) to expand our Attack of the Cursed Syphilis awareness campaign throughout the province. Support from the GMSH, along with the Public Health Agency of Canada, will ensure the campaign is available in French and English, and will have greater reach across Ontario. The provincial version of the campaign will include English and French versions of the poster and brochure, as well as

a new postcard targeted specifically to HIV-positive gay men (also available in English and French). In addition, the campaign also includes geographically-targeted web advertising using gay cruising and chat-based websites.

Here in Toronto, ACT has launched the second phase of the campaign with transit ads appearing in subway cars throughout Pride season.

The campaign can be viewed at www.actoronto.org/syphilis. French content can be viewed at www.actoronto.org/syphilis/fr

JOB

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– Finding your own wayIn recent years, more and more emphasis has been placed on HIV prevention programs specifically targeting people living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs). This emphasis recognizes that sexual health is an important aspect of the overall health and wellness of PHAs, and PHAs also have a role to play in reducing the spread of HIV. Specific “poz prevention” programs have been developed in other cities, but none of them have specifically focused on the sexual health promotion needs of gay men with HIV. Very few have been rigor-ously evaluated to ensure that they achieve their intended outcomes. That has changed with GPS: Gay Poz Sex.

GPS is the result of a collaboration of ACT with a team of researchers and HIV-positive gay men. The team works under the direction of the Poz Prevention Working Group, a committee of the Ontario Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance (of which ACT is a member). The primary objective of GPS is to implement and evaluate a sexual health and HIV prevention program for HIV-positive gay men in a community-based research framework. The project is currently evaluating its positive effects on participants and the community through three surveys given before men start the program, right after the program ends, and three months later, in order to assess any changes in

participants’ well-being and sexual behaviours. “The program consists of seven two-hour, weekly meetings, the first two meetings explore participants’ current understanding of sexual health and HIV disclosure through interactive exercises and brief presentations of educational materials. The final five meetings use Motivational Interviewing (a specific counselling technique) to help participants explore their individual current sexual behaviours,” says Rick Julien, a Research Assistant/Peer Facilitator with the project. Group participants are helped by their peer facilitators to identify areas of ambivalence, the pros and cons of their current sexual behaviours, challenges to making a change, desirable outcomes, fears and hopes, and strategic goal planning. Participants are helped to focus on goals that will positively impact their sexual health and the health of their sexual partners.

“What’s exciting about GPS is the fact that it’s a research study with real implications for programming that will help to support the health of PHAs,” says Rick. “It’s a cutting-edge example of developing new programs with real and meaningful involvement of PHAs.”

For more about GPS, you can email gps@actoronto.org or contact Rick at 416-340-8484 ext. 277.

ACT Newsletter | 10

Join us on premiere performance — Tuesday, October 12 — for an exciting

evening of theatre, fun and fabulousness that will raise funds for the AIDS

Committee of Toronto (ACT) HIV prevention, education and support programs .

Individual tickets to this event cost $250 and include:

Orc• hestra seating for the premiere performance at the Princess of Wales TheatreExclusive post-show after-party with complimentary cocktails • and hors d’oeuvresMix and mingle with the cast of the show• Plus other fabulous surprises!•

B E T H E f I r ST TO M E E T T H E Q u E E n. . . O f T H E D E S E rT !

ACT Newsletter | PB0

(ACT)

SNAP! SPEEDRAFFLE WINNERS On Sunday, March 21, over 550 photography aficionados gathered to bid on artwork, enjoy great food & drink and support SNAP! 2010. A whopping $295,715 was raised to help ACT continue to provide support to people living with, affected by, and at risk for HIV/AIDS.

We couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks to our patrons, sponsors and donors, artists and art galleries and silent auction participants! Congratulations to the 3 lucky SNAP! Speed Raffle prize winners: 1st Prize, Rolyn Chambers; 2nd Prize, Rita Chan; and 3rd Prize, Anne Peiris.

First Prize: Two Air Canada return tickets to anywhere in North America and seven nights with Starwood Accommodations: Rolyn Chambers of Toronto

Second Prize: Two Air Canada return tickets to Paris, France and a $750 VISA Cash Card: Rita Chan of Toronto

Third Prize: Two Air Canada return tickets to Las Vegas and $1,000 VISA Cash Card: Anne Peiris of Toronto

A

limited block of tickets to this exclusive

fundraising event are still available:

www.actoronto.org/priscilla

premiere reception

sponsored by

VISUAL IDENTITYGUIDELINES

SCOTIABANK AIDS WALK FOR LIFEISSUE �/APRIL ����

VISUAL IDENTITYGUIDELINES

SCOTIABANK AIDS WALK FOR LIFEISSUE �/APRIL ����

Sunday, September 19, 2010Don’t Just Stand There!

aidswalktoronto.ca

Cineplex EntertainmentEmpire Theatres

Maclean’s MagazineMarketwire

Outlooks MagazineRainbow Cinemas

National SponsorsA Partnership Project of

Title Platinum Gold

Local SponsorsClockwork Productions

Grassroots Advertising Inc.Jana WaterPizza Pizza

Windsor Arms Hotel Group

Silver

Bronze

Official Courier

Canpar

Promotional Part

A benefit for

 

DM10N1

leaving

I’d like to become a Partner in ACTion and make monthly gifts of:

ACTion

/subscribe

 

DM10N1

leaving

I’d like to become a Partner in ACTion and make monthly gifts of:

ACTion

/subscribe

AIDS Committee of Toronto399 Church Street, 4th floor, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2J6

T 416-340-8484 ext. 279 F 416-340-8224 E ask@actoronto.org W actoronto.orgMonday to Thursday 10 am–9 pm Friday 10 am–5 pm

The AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) delivers responsive, effective, and valued community-based HIV support services and education, prevention, outreach and fundraising programs

that promote the health, well-being, worth and rights of individuals and communities living with, affected by and at risk for HIV/AIDS, and increase awareness of HIV/AIDS.

@ACToronto facebook.com/ACToronto

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You can’t put a price on the independence and self-esteem I’ve gained...“ ”

Make a gift to the AIDS Committee of Toronto to support our vital programs

for people living with, affected by, and at risk for HIV/AIDS.