ACT’s Women’s Community Development Program: An assessment report.
By: Tania Smith, Women’s Community Development Coordinator, June 2003
Background
The AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) Strategic Plan for the period 2001 – 2004 involved the completion of an environmental scan to identify the shifts, trends and needs of staff, community partners and the communities ACT serves. Committed to serving the needs of all living with HIV/AIDS, and gay men, youth and at-risk women, ACT’s 2001-2004 Strategic Plan included an emphasis on equity and access and strategic planning to continue identifying, implementing, and coordinating strategies at all levels of the organization to reflect and serve the diverse communities of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. In Strategic Direction #3, ACT commits to review its role and strategies with other agencies, as part of a system-wide needs assessment and planning process.
Assessment of epidemiological information and consultations with community partner agencies revealed an increase in HIV infection rates among diverse groups of women in Toronto: women from countries of high HIV prevalence, substance users, women whose partners practiced high risk sex and/or drug-using behaviours, as well as women who identified no other risk other than “heterosexual sex”.
In support of the agency’s strategic directions and to assist in the development of relevant and appropriate programming, ACT’s Women’ Community Development Program (WCDP) conducted a program assessment to identify service provider priorities and needs. This assessment consists of interviews with community partners from various community health, health and social service organizations in Toronto. The results of this process will assist in better defining the roles, activities and approaches of this program.
Program Assessment and Development
Goal
To develop relevant and appropriate community development programming
Target Population
1. Relevant staff member(s) of organizations that provide direct education and support to at risk and HIV-positive women.
Objectives
1. To identify the target population(s) and priorities of relevant programs within organizations that provide direct education and support to at risk and HIV-positive women
2. To identify the barriers to providing relevant education and support
3. To identify the priorities of organizations that provide health and social services to at risk and HIV-positive women
4. To identify the barriers to providing relevant treatment and services
5. To identify the health and social service needs of at risk and HIV-positive women
6. To determine the roles, activities and approaches of the WCDP within the community.
Strategies
1. Conduct interviews with relevant staff within AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs), and other HIV-related programs and services.
2. Conduct literature review of studies, focus groups and needs assessments of at risk and HIV-positive women.
Results
COMMUNITY PARTNER INTERVIEWS (ASOs and HIV related service organizations)
Through the Women’s Outreach Network, staff interviewed 10 community partners from community health clinics, AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs), hospices, Public Health and community centres. The interviews were conducted from January to March 2002. Each interview lasted between one to one and a half hours and consisted of the following questions:
1. What is your title and role?
2. What are your priority issues and target audience for this year?
3. What projects are you working on for the year?
4. What are the barriers to providing relevant and appropriate services?
5. Have you worked with the WCDP in the past? If yes, what were the challenges or success
6. In your opinion, what role does the WCDP play within the community?
7. What can the WCDP do in relation to your projects and priorities for this year?
This report will focus on community priorities and activities; barriers to providing relevant education, care and support; and the WCDP role within community.
Priority issues and activities
Service/Program Provision Challenges
Role of WCDP
What can ACT’s WCDP do to assist with your projects and priorities?
Strategic Directions for the Women’s Community Development Program
Feedback from community partners clearly outlined a clear coordination, information sharing and facilitory role for ACT’s Women’s Community Development Program. As a result, the Women’s Community Development Coordinator will:
How These Directions will be Achieved
In recognition of the value of pre-existing structures, ACT’s Women’s Community Development Coordinator will work through the Women’s Outreach Network (WON) to fulfill the expected role and activities for the Women’s Community Development Program (WCDP). WON is a pro-choice, anti-oppression, group of individuals and organizations working together to develop, support and enhance HIV/AIDS services for women. WON provides networking, information sharing and partnership opportunities for services providers who work with at risk and HIV-positive women.
The Women’s Community Development Coordinator will resume and enhance coordination and facilitation of the monthly Women’s Outreach Network (WON) meetings and activities. Historically, WON served as an information-sharing network and an informal advisory committee for ACT’s WCDP. The WCDC was responsible for coordinating WON activities and chairing meetings. After several joint advocacy initiatives and collaborative projects, WON sought a more autonomous structure from the WCDP where coordination, chairing and minute-taking responsibilities were rotated among members. Eventually, productivity and attendance waned and the network lost direction. ACT is committed to rejuvenating the work of WON by participating in a much more active role.
Through yearly strategic direction setting meetings, the WCDC will facilitate WON’s agenda setting, identification of issues, activities and partnership opportunities.
Through information and skill gaps identified through reports, consultations, networks and WON, the WCDC will work with WON members to plan, coordinate and implement relevant training sessions, workshops and presentations for service providers who work with at risk and HIV-positive women.
The WCDC will establish links between WON and relevant networks and committees to facilitate information sharing and increase partnership opportunities.
The WCDC will promote WON and its activities to generate membership and awareness.
The WCDC will develop resources or communication channels to promote the programs and projects of members and relevant organizations.
The WCDC will write articles and make presentations about service provider issues, women’s HIV risk factors, living with HIV, sexual health and service access.
The WCDC will research relevant resources such as research reports, web sites and networks.
