ACT Mission, Vision and Values

Mission

The AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) develops and delivers innovative programs and services that promote the dignity, health and well-being of individuals and communities living with, affected by and at risk for HIV.
Vision

Working together to achieve a world without HIV/AIDS.
Values

Meaningful Involvement of People with HIV/AIDS (MIPA):
  • Commit to the meaningful involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS at all levels of the organization.

Equity and Access:
  • Value the diversity and distinct needs and contributions of our program and service users, volunteers, staff and supporters.
  • Provide targeted programming and services to specific communities in order to realize optimal health outcomes.
  • Diversity in age, culture, (dis)ability, gender, HIV status, language, race, religion, sexual identity, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status is central to our work.
  • Recognize the presence and impact of all forms of discrimination and marginalization on individuals and communities living with and at risk of HIV, and commit to eliminating them.
  • Ensure that our services are accessible and our programming inclusive of diverse perspectives and approaches.

Self-Determination:
  • Work with individuals and communities to enable them to take an active role in determining, planning and directing their health, care and well-being.
  • Provide confidential, responsive, caring, respectful, sex positive, non-judgmental and client-centred services that promote the health of people living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS. This includes our outreach and prevention work.
  • Create targeted strategies to meet the particular needs of people living with and at risk for HIV.
  • 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.
  • Employ harm and risk reduction approaches to provide information and education in effort to reduce people's risk of HIV infection.

Respect:
  • Commit to treating each of our staff, volunteers, service users and community partners with respect.

Strengths-based approach:
  • Honour and recognize the enormous amount of work that we, our partners, and our communities have contributed to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
  • Honour and recognize the resilience of those communities that have been deeply affected by HIV in Toronto.
  • Acknowledge that while the fight is not over, we have had successes in raising awareness, reducing HIV infection, influencing public policy, and improving the health and well-being of those living with and at risk of HIV infection.
  • Share the successes and strengths of our work.