Young People
ACT offers a collection of free programs and services for young people living with HIV, including PYO, our positive youth support program.
Programs and services at ACT for young people
ACT’s Positive Youth Outreach (PYO) program is a free, peer-led program for young people (16-29) living with HIV. You heard us – PYO is a program for you and led by people just like you, who’ve been where you are before.
PYO’s main group meets every Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at ACT, but it also offers a range of other supports. Such as:
Weekly Discussion Group
Every Thursday from 6 - 8pm, open to young people living with HIV for a structured peer discussion support group.
Community Learning Series
External workshops are held in community settings for young people living with, affected by, at risk for, or concerned about HIV, Hep C or other STIs.
Peer Support
We offer peer support by appointment and on a drop-in basis.
Connecting you to Services
We help connect young people living with HIV to other services both at ACT and at other community agencies and services.
Leadership Development
We provide opportunities that build leadership skills among young people living with HIV.
Community Outreach
We provide information on HIV, Hep C, and other STIs as well as sexual health to young people. We go to places where young people hang out in the community!
ACT offers a wide range of group-based programs. Some of these are support groups, some of these are more educational in nature. We offer groups specifically for people living with HIV, for those concerned about their risk of HIV, as well as groups that focus on mental health or substance use.
ACT provides free, confidential counselling to anyone who knows someone with HIV, or is concerned about their risk of HIV. Counsellors will meet with you at ACT offices, over the phone, or in other locations such as coffee shops. There is no need to give a real name if anonymity or confidentiality is a concern. Couples counselling, grief/bereavement counselling, and counselling for a partner of someone with HIV, are all available.
ACT offers free employment supports for young people living with HIV through Employment ACTion. As a progressive, not-for-profit employment program, EA can work with you to help find the career that fits that your needs and will help prepare you for new challenges such as resume writing and interview coaching.
One of ACT’s national partners has made these resources and others available to order. Find them at CATIE.ca