ACT e-Bulletin Vol. 1 No. 2

The ACT e-Bulletin
Volume 1, Number 2 | April/May 2006

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SPRING FOR LIFE
During the week of April 23-29, 2006, businesses across the country will take part in Spring for Life, an AIDS fundraiser for research and support of Canadians living with HIV/AIDS across Canada. In Toronto, participating salons, massage therapists and spas will donate a minimum of 15% of sales from one business day that week, with proceeds going to ACT.

You can help! Make an appointment at any one of the participating locations, and help support ACT — Chael Allen Salon & Spa, Shagg Salon, Chakra Spa, and more. For more information go to www.springforlife.ca and click on Toronto.


THANKS FOR MAKING ACT RESEARCH DAY A BIG SUCCESS!
Thanks to generous funding from the Ontario HIV Treatment Network, great attendance, excellent panel presentations, and engaged participation, the third annual ACT Research Day (ACTRD) was a tremendous success. The event brought together over 75 participants, including frontline staff from a variety of AIDS service organizations (ASOs), and community-based organizations, as well as researchers, academics, community members, funders, and ACT board members, staff and volunteers.

ACTRD provided an opportunity for four dynamic community-based researchers to present their work. Nick Boyce spoke about his research into crystal meth use among gay and bisexual men in Toronto; Kristy Buck presented research on case management for people living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs); Erica Lawson discussed her research on HIV-related stigma and discrimination among African and Caribbean people living in Toronto; and Robin Weir presented research on health and quality of life for PHAs in Ontario.

Discussion centered on how research can contribute to program development and how knowledge can be transferred from frontline staff to researchers and vice versa. ACTRD was also an opportunity for researchers and ASO staff to explore new research ideas and opportunities for collaborative projects. The event was recorded and will be posted on the ACT web page for viewing. Presentation materials from the event will also be available on line in pdf.

Please join us for the fourth annual ACT Research Day in 2007.


THE PYO/ACT RETREAT
On Oct. 13-15, Positive Youth Outreach (PYO) and ACT will host the second annual retreat for HIV-positive youth (folks 29 years of age and under). Held at the Mansfield Outdoor Centre just north of Toronto, the retreat offers a supportive environment for youth to share life experiences and discuss health decision-making in workshop and group discussion settings; there will also be time for relaxation, fun, and outdoor activities. To take advantage of this opportunity to get away from everyday stresses and take time for self-care and reflection, please email pyo@actoronto.org or call 416-340-8484 ext. 281 for more information.


THE SEX FROM A-Z CAMPAIGN and YOUTH AT AIDS2006
The Sex From A-Z campaign continues to roll out at more locations in Toronto, with rave reviews from everyone who gets their hands on a deck of A-Z trading cards. Check out the Sex From A-Z website at sexatoz.actoronto.org.

ACT's Youth Community Education program is also working on opportunities for Toronto youth to participate at the International AIDS Conference this August. Contact Ben Houghton, ACT's Youth Community Education Coordinator, at 416-340-8484 ext. 260 or bhoughton@actoronto.org to find out how you can get involved.


WELLNESS AT ACT
In response to our clients' desire for holistic HIV/AIDS support and care, ACT is excited to announce plans for a new wellness project under development in 2006. This project will bring ASOs, health care providers and PHAs together develop new collaborative programming. To increase awareness about and access to existing wellness programming happening across the city, we will be publishing a calendar of programs and services currently available to PHAs.

ACT's wellness project will offer easier to access HIV/AIDS-related holistic health information and the opportunity to connect with resources, services and staff from ACT and other agencies in the community. PHAs will be able to share experiences, exchange personal and health information, acquire new knowledge, and explore choices about health and wellness in a comfortable and open atmosphere — at 399 Church Street and other venues across the city.

What the programming will ultimately look like depends on the guidance, over the next 12 months, of a Wellness Advisory Committee. To be formed this spring, the Advisory Committee will consist of staff and volunteers from ACT and other community agencies, including one of our main community partners, the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation (TPWAF), as well as PHAs.

If you are interested in participating in either the Wellness Advisory Committee or a focus group, as a PHA and/or a service provider, or if you have any ideas or suggestions for new programming, please contact Kristy Buck at 416-340-8484 ext. 234 or kbuck@actoronto.org.


INCOME TAX CLINIC
Tax season is upon us, and with it, ACT's Income Tax Clinic for PHAs living on a restricted income. This year the Clinic will offer Efile, an electronic tax return software that ensures speedier processing. Contact Patrick Kearns, ACT's Practical Assistance Coordinator, at 416-340-8484 ext. 230 or pkearns@actoronto.org to sign up for one of our clinics. Our volunteers will make it all seem so easy!


SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORK
ACT's Social Support Network for PHAs was on the road again on March 8, when the group travelled to Mississauga to enjoy a day at the Sugar Bush. Bradley's 1830's Museum was the venue for a day-long visit to a historical homestead. The group saw how maple syrup was made and enjoyed a pancake brunch. In April, the Social Support Network travels to Scarborough for an afternoon of swimming at Variety Village. For more information about upcoming Social Support Network activities, contact Patrick at 416-340-8484, ext. 230.


CRYSTAL METH CAMPAIGN TO LAUNCH SOON
The Toronto Gay/Bi Men’s Crystal Meth Task Force includes staff from ACT and various other community-based agencies and businesses that have an interest in the health of gay and bisexual men in Toronto. Over the last few months the Task Force has been meeting regularly to address the issue of crystal meth use in Toronto’s gay community. Look out for a new crystal meth awareness campaign launching before the summer.

The campaign will include an extensive website. We are looking for true stories about crystal meth (Tina) in Toronto that will be published in a section tentatively called “Experiences.” We would like short essays (500 – 1500 words) about experiences with crystal meth as a user, as a friend of a user, or as a former user. How has crystal meth impacted your life? The experience needs to be real — the author's name doesn’t have to be. Essays can be published anonymously.

We are also building a radio section for the website, so if you're interested in telling your story in your own voice, let us know in your essay submission and we'll contact you for a follow-up. We also welcome submissions of poetry and art inspired by experiences of crystal meth.

We would like to start collecting submission as soon as possible. They can be sent in electronic format to Duncan at duncan.maclachlan@sympatico.ca or to Nick at nboyce@actoronto.org.

We know that many different people’s lives have been impacted by this drug in a variety of ways. Although you may not have a story, or not wish to share it in this way, please consider passing this request along to anyone you think might be interested in doing so. Thank you!

And while we can’t guarantee placement of submissions, we are interested in having as much community input as possible. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.


THE GOOD FOOD BOX CLUB
Offered in collaboration with Field to Table/Food Share, ACT's Good Food Box Club provides PHAs with fresh fruits and vegetables every Friday at the agency's Meet and Eat event. Over the past year the Club has continued to grow, reaching more and more people with healthy food and recipes — each box includes a newsletter and recipe ideas to complement the fruit and vegetables, some of which are organically grown. To give the Good Food Box Club a try, contact Robin Rhodes, ACT's Health Promotion Coordinator, at 416-340-8484 ext. 219 or rrhodes@actoronto.org.


PROGRAM VOLUNTEER RESOURCES
The Spring 2006 Volunteer Core Skills Training commenced on Thursday, March 22, 2006, and will run until April 6. Congratulations to all the Core Skills graduates for their participation in the training and for their commitment to the HIV/AIDS movement. The next Core Skills will be held in the Fall of 2006.

As part of the Winter/Spring Volunteer In-Service Training Series, ACT will host a workshop on Harm Reduction on Thursday, April 27, 2006. Held in partnership with The Toronto People With AIDS Foundation ( TPWAF ), the workshop provides professional development and continuing education to all program volunteers who work directly with clients. It is an ideal opportunity for participants to learn about the values of ACT's harm reduction approach when serving clients who use drugs or alcohol, and to discuss strategies for meeting the needs of our clients. Advance registrations is required and space is limited.
For more information about the fall Core Skills Training or the upcoming In-Service Training Series, please contact Sergio Martinez, ACT's Program Volunteer resources Coordinator, at 416-340-8484 ext. 224 or smartinez@actoronto.org.


CD-ROM AND DVD COLLECTIONS AT THE ACT LIBRARY
You can now search our CD-ROM and DVD collections in the online library catalogue. Most CD-ROMs are available for two-day loans. DVDs cannot yet be borrowed, but you are welcome to drop in and view them in the library. Titles you’ll find in the catalogue include:

Retro woman : navigating advanced HIV/AIDS treatment / material written and researched by Carole Lunny, BC Persons With AIDS Society, 2004. CD0017

Reducing stigma and discrimination related to HIV and AIDS : participant's handbook and trainer's manual : training for health care workers / EngenderHealth, 2004. CD0021

Ending AIDS : the search for a vaccine / produced and directed by Bill Jersey and Michael Schwartz ; narrated by Richard Gere, 2005. DVD0003

Or search the library catalogue at www.actoronto.org/library for more!


THE THURSDAY GOOD COMPANY LUNCH
Recognizing that the needs of PHAs change as they live longer with HIV/AIDS, ACT launched the Good Company Lunch last year to provide them with extra support.

Some members of the community face significant life challenges: Loss of partners, social isolation, and the progression of physical disabilities. As a result they become housebound, or live in community homes, or short-term hospice care. Some emerge from hospital stays with little support and few social outlets in their lives.

Every Thursday, ACT volunteers picks up PHAs with disabilities from their places of residence and brings them to the Good Company Lunch, where they enjoy a good hot meal and the company of others in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. For more information about the Good Company Lunch, contact Robin at 416-340-8484 ext. 219 or rrhodes@actoronto.org.