Created in tribute to June Callwood, The Casey Awards annually celebrate individuals and organizations across Canada that demonstrate leadership in social justice and commitment to HIV/AIDS. Created in 2008, the inaugural recipient, and inspiration, for the awards was June Callwood, one of the founders of Casey House. The Casey Awards celebrate June’s spirit of innovative leadership.
Nominate someone
Open call for nominations for the 2022 Casey Awards. Submissions welcome until September 16 at 5 p.m. |
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Dear OHRN Stakeholders,
It is with mixed emotions that I announce Nick Boyce’s departure as Director of the Ontario Harm Reduction Network, hosted at Fife House Foundation. Nick will be sending a message shortly to share details of his new direction.
Nick has provided strong leadership to OHRN over the past many years and we wish him all the best in his new opportunity.
During this transition time, OHRN continues to be there to support harm reduction outreach workers, managers and public health units.
We are working through some transition details and, for now, please direct any questions to Nadine Sookermany or to info@ohrn.org.
We would like to wish Nick continued success in his new role Senior Policy Analyst with the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition |
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LetsStopAIDS is looking for enthusiastic young volunteers with ages between 15 to 30 to participate in the formation of the second iteration of our National Action & Advisory Council, aiming to support the development of our National programmes!
We are looking for youth interested in joining a peer-to-peer support network, provide easy-to-understand HIV information and eliminate prejudice and stigma against individuals with HIV?
NAAC members will give advice, formulate opinions and make recommendations on matters related to their respective community. They will evaluate the project's performance and gather input from/serve as a liaison within relevant constituencies. Lastly, they will provide feedback and technical expertise, assisting the National Team in determining essential activities and next steps.
You can learn more, and those interested can apply to be a Member of the National Action & Advisory Council here.
The Deadline to apply is 25 September, 2022.
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On Tuesday September 27th the EA team will be hosting two workshops in-person from 11am until 4pm. We will also be providing lunch. RSVP’s can be sent to solutions@employmentaction.org
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Toronto Community Crisis Service Pilot Project: Alternatives for calling the police for mental health crisis
HIV Mental Health Network Quarterly Meeting
September 28th, 2022 from 1-3pm EST
Description:
Andrea Westbrook, manager of the Toronto Community Crisis Service Pilot at Gerstein Centre, will present on the development of this Pilot, who is involved in the communities it is intended to serve, and how its been going since its launch in March 2022. Health care professionals and community service workers will learn why they may want to access this program for their clients.
Audience:
This virtual meeting is intended for clinical and non-clinical workers supporting people living with HIV. This includes: HIV Mental Health workers in ASOs and clinical environments, front line support workers, and private practitioners serving HIV positive clients.
Registration is not required for this meeting.
Click here to join the meeting on September 28th
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Registration for the Positive Leadership Development Institute's Online Core Training is open. The PLDI in-person Core Training is from September 29th- October 2nd. The PLDI session will be held at The Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre, London, On
How to registerr Go here to apply: https://pldi.ca/apply/
PLDI is designed for PLHIV who are interested in building their leadership and resilience capacities either in the HIV sector or their personal lives. This program welcomes anyone living with HIV to apply for this leadership course. PLDI is a professional development opportunity – it is not a support group. People attending the training are expected to be present and participating for the duration.
Throughout the course, participants are encouraged to see themselves as part of a larger community of PLHIV, value and appreciate the unique experiences that accompany anyone living with HIV and understand the history and evolution of the global and local responses to HIV.
It is important to note that there are limitations to what this course is able to achieve. It is not designed to assist PLHIV to come to terms with their diagnosis, and it is not a therapeutic intervention.
Ensuring that PLDI graduates are supported, prepared and able to go back into their communities to commit to social change and to challenge HIV stigma is an ambitious undertaking. It is our belief that it is the collective effort and the passion of PLHIV who have driven many of the changes in HIV policy, practice, and research and it is PLHIV who will affect how we see HIV tomorrow.
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Shared Truth, Shared Reflection.
September 30th, 2022 from 9:30am-12pm EST
Description:
HIV Resources Ontario invites you to a dialogue on the second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. At this event, people working in Ontario's HIV sector will mark this important day through truth telling, and turning knowledge into action.
Audience:
This event is for HIV sector staff (ASO frontline workers and management, and HRO members.
Register Here for Shared Truth, Shared Reflection
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October 4th, 2022 from 1-3pm EST
Surviving Systemic Barriers: How age and financial (in)security impact health outcomes for people living with HIV.
- Describe intersecting life course experiences shared by older adults living with HIV and how these impact the experience of aging
- Describe client and service provider experiences accessing income supports and treatment in the context of aging with HIV
- Explore how to best support older adults living with HIV
- Access the PANACHE Report
As well as, Danielle Giliauskas-Senior Analyst, Knowledge Synthesis OHTN, will be presenting on Psychosocial needs and vulnerabilities of older gay and bisexual men.
Audience:
ASO workers, clinicians, and members of health care teams
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Positive Outlook: Creating Hope out of Uncertainty.
October 18th, 2022 at 10am EST
Description:
Join Kate Murzin in a workshop for volunteers and workers who do support groups. This workshop will explore:
- Service providers’ mental health is directly correlated with the quality of service they provide to the community
- Positive communication, coping strategies (such as grounding) help to manage stress and burnout
- Help is available to support anxiety triggered by living with chronic uncertainty for people living with HIV and their helpers
Audience:
Front line workers who facilitate support groups.
This is a virtual and interactive workshop. Registration is required, maximum capacity is 20 participants.
Register Here for Positive Outlook
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Because She Cares: African, Caribbean and Black women living with HIV engaged in (un)caring work in HIV organizations
October 18, 2022
2 to 4 p.m. EDT (webinar)
4:15 to 5:15 p.m. EDT (workshop) |
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This webinar aims to create a collective virtual space to mobilize knowledge and findings from Because She Cares, a collaborative poetic project and film which centres stories by African, Caribbean and Black women engaged in HIV service and allied-health organizations. |
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Participants of the webinar will have the opportunity to:
- view a screening of Because She Cares, stories created by African, Caribbean and Black women about their work and roles in the HIV sector;
- learn from, and engage with, speakers involved in the making of Because She Cares; and
- discuss the need for culturally congruent approaches to HIV knowledge mobilization and the use of the film to unpack anti-Black racism and intersectional oppressions in workplaces.
Moderator: Shriya Hari, CATIE
Speakers:
- Nonty Nkala, Mademoiselle of Ceremonies
- Lena Soje, Co-Investigator, Because She Cares
- Marvelous Muchenje, Co-Investigator, Because She Cares
- Chantal Mukandoli, Performer, Because She Cares
- Paulina Tshuma, Performer, Because She Cares
- Dakarayi Chigugudhlo, Performer, Because She Cares
- Lori Chambers, Co-Principal Investigator, Producer, Because She Cares
Following this webinar, we will host a workshop called Kitchen Table Talks. This workshop will discuss in depth the emerging themes from Because She Cares, and how to integrate the film as a relevant educational tool in supporting people living with HIV and related anti-racism/anti-oppression work.
Kitchen Table Talks will feature five Zoom breakout sessions, each with a unique discussion theme. There will be one group exclusively for African, Caribbean and Black women living with HIV.
Participants of the workshop will have the opportunity to self-select the breakout session they wish to attend. We ask that participants respect the privacy of those with whom they are sharing space. However, due to the nature of this virtual setting, the organizers cannot guarantee confidentiality. |
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2022 Realize Annual Meeting and Presentation of the 2022 Elisse Zack Award for Excellence in HIV and Rehabilitation
When: Friday September 23rd, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Where: Online and in-person in Victoria BC (venue TBD)
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Monkey pox & COVID-19 Resources
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Monkeypox What We Need To Know
Toronto Public Health has developed some new MPOX resources which are now available at webpage: www.toronto.ca/monkeypox
Community agencies and other partners, such as bathhouses, are encouraged to use these materials to help promote MPOX prevention.
General MPOX prevention poster
- Can be used in various settings to inform the public about ways people can reduce their risk.
MPX prevention poster for people who use substances
- Developed in response to questions from community agencies and harm reduction advocates about reducing MPOX transmission in the context of drug use.
MPOX Self-Screening Poster
- Aims to expand awareness of MPX symptoms.
- In particular, bathhouses and other sex-on-venue premises may be interested in displaying this poster at entrances.
Checklist for sex-on-venue premises
- Provides guidance on how to prevent MPOX spread in bathhouses, sex clubs, private sex parties and other venues where sex occurs.
MPOX Factsheet
Summarizes basic information about MPOX which can be shared electronically or printed for residents.
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Information about COVID-19 and People living with HIV
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COVID-19 Information and Resources
Now is the time to stay informed through credible sources, and to follow the advice of our public health professionals. Together we can limit the spread of COVID-19.
Phone lines for telehealth, TPH and 311 continue to experience very high volumes. Please help keep the phones lines open for people who are sick by visiting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 website for up-to-date information and resources: toronto.ca/covid-19
Telehealth Ontario
Call if you develop symptoms!
Telephone: 1-866-797-0000
Toronto Public Health Hotline
8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Call if you have questions about COVID-19.
Telephone: 416-338-7600
TTY: 416-392-0658
Email: PublicHealth@toronto.ca
311 Toronto
311 provides residents, businesses and visitors with easy access to non-emergency City services, programs and information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 311 can offer assistance in more than 180 languages.
Telephone: 311
Website
Outside City limits: 416-392-2489
For more information, visit Canada.ca/covid-vaccine and your provincial or territorial website for information based on where you live.
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