Manual Introduction
1-10
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES MANUAL
POLICY
MANUAL INTRODUCTION
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Programs and Services Manual is to:
1. provide a format for accessing historical decisions;
2. guide relationships among employees, volunteers, board members, clients, sponsors, donors, and other AIDS service organizations;
3. ensure consistency of practice;
4. ensure compliance with applicable legislation;
5. serve as a practical orientation tool; and
6. increase the credibility and legitimacy of the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) within the communities it serves.
OTHER MANUALS
In addition to this Programs and Services Manual, ACT has an Agency Manual and a Human Resources Manual.
REFERENCES
The following papers, brochures, books, standards, acts and manuals which have been referred to in this manual are available in the Library:
Employment Standards Act.
AIDSIDA Consensus Forum on HIV/AIDS Prevention Education, Health Canada, 1992.
How are We Doing? (ACT brochure)
Harm Reduction as Community Health, Kim Stanford, 1997.
Harm Reduction Principles and HIV/AIDS: A Document for Discussion, Canadian AIDS Society, March, 1997.
Health Professions Act.
Hooking Up to Social Services, "A Report on the Barriers People Living with HIV/AIDS Face Accessing Social Services," Eric Mykhalovskiy and George Smith, 1993.
The Living Guide: Services in the Toronto Area for People Living with HIV or AIDS.
National Volunteer Training Kit, AIDS Committee of Toronto, January, 1998.
Ontario Child and Family Services Act.
Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986.
Safer Sex Guidelines: Healthy Sexuality and HIV - A Resource Guide for Educators and Counsellors, Canadian AIDS Society, revised edition, March, 1994.
Sexual Safety: A Guide, AIDS Committee of Ottawa, Michael Graydon, September, 1994.
Strategic Plan, AIDS Committee of Toronto, 1996/97.
Taking Care of Each Other, Trussler and Marchand, AIDS Vancouver, 1993.
TERMS
The terms employee and staff are used interchangeably in this manual.
ORIENTATION AND USE
Employees, volunteers and Board members receive an orientation to all applicable policy and procedure manuals as part of ACT's general orientation.
All staff must maintain familiarity with and abide by policies and procedures in ACT's policy and procedure manuals. However, these policies and procedures are not intended to restrict initiative or judgement required to provide appropriate and effective service. The manuals are intended to provide a framework for effective performance. Exceptions to these policies and procedures are to be discussed with the appropriate supervisors.
All revisions to the manuals are posted by the Systems Administrator and staff are responsible for being current in their knowledge of all agency policies and procedures.
STRUCTURE
This manual is divided into nine sections:
1. Introduction
2. Operational Issues
3. Client Information
4. Support Services
5. Public Access Centre
6. Education and Outreach
7. Deaf Outreach Project (DOP)
8. Advocacy
NUMBERING
Multiples of ten have been used for sequential policies and procedures. Nine reserved numbers are then available for new policies or procedures that may be added.
APPROVAL
Policies in this manual are approved by the Board of Directors; procedures are approved by the Executive Director.
REVIEWS AND REVISIONS
Policies and procedures in this manual are revised to reflect policy and procedure changes when changes occur.
In addition, the Policy and Procedure Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring the material in this manual is reviewed and revised or reconfirmed once every three years in coordination with the strategic plan.
Manual readers are encouraged to suggest revisions that may be needed in ACT's policies and procedures. If a reader has a suggestion for a change in any policy/procedure in ACT's manuals, that person should:
1. a) Copy the document requiring revision and write suggested changes on the copy, or
b) prepare a suggested rewrite or new document.
2. Forward submission to the Chair of the Policy and Procedure Committee for consideration.
Individuals submitting recommendations for policy and procedure revisions will receive a response.
STORAGE OF OUTDATED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Outdated or replaced policies and procedures are archived when changes are approved.
PERMISSION TO USE
External agencies may reproduce/reprint any part of the ACT policy and procedure manuals in keeping with Reproduction of ACT Brochures/Materials, AM # 2-110.
External agencies may use ACT's policy and procedure manuals to develop new material provided the new material acknowledges ACT's manuals as a source.
