ACT Mission, Vision and Values

Mission

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.


Vision

The AIDS Committee of Toronto is a leader in developing and delivering programs and services that contribute to achieving a world without HIV/AIDS.


Values

ACT has nine core values:

Voices and Experiences of People Living with HIV/AIDS
    • We are committed to the involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS at all levels of the organization.

Origins in and Commitment to Gay and Lesbian Communities and People Living with HIV/AIDS
    • We honour the origins of the AIDS Committee of Toronto which are rooted in voluntarism and activism by communities of people living with HIV/AIDS, gay men and lesbians.
    • We remain committed to working with and serving the needs of these communities.

Diversity and Inclusion
    • We value the diversity, distinct needs and contributions of our program and service users, volunteers, staff and supporters.
    • Our diversity includes, but is not limited to, individuals and communities from a variety of ages, cultures, (dis)abilities, genders, HIV status, languages, races, religions, sexual identities and socioeconomic status.
    • We recognize the presence and impact of all forms of discrimination and marginalization on individuals and communities living with and at risk of HIV/AIDS, and are committed to eliminating them.

Client-Centred Services
    • We value confidential, responsive, caring, respectful and non-judgmental services that promote the health of people living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS.
    • We work with individuals and communities to enable them to take an active role in planning and directing their care.
    • We support targeted strategies to meet particular needs of people living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS.

Informed Choices
    • We support the overwhelming evidence that HIV causes AIDS.
    • We value the rights of individuals to make informed choices that include, but are not limited to, sex, sexuality, reproduction, health care, substance use and treatment.
    • We commit to harm and risk reduction as empirically validated approaches to providing information and education in the effort to reduce people's risk of HIV infection.

Excellence in Service
    • We value and support the role and commitment of staff and volunteers in achieving excellence in service.
    • We value community engagement and the use of research and evaluation to ensure that programs and services remain responsive to evolving needs.

Collaboration
    • We are committed to working collaboratively with others to mutually strengthen our efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.

Advocacy
    • We work to effect changes at individual, community, service and policy levels to improve the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and address the factors that put people at risk for HIV.

Accountability
    • We value the trust program and service users, volunteers, staff, funders and supporters have in us and we are committed to being transparent and accountable to them for the use of our resources.