Andrea's blog

This poster presentation was presented at the 2010 Canadian AIDS Society Skills conference in Montreal, March 2010. Click HERE to see the poster.

Authors: Andrea Langlois, AIDS Vancouver Island, Dr. Bernie Pauly, School of Nursing, University of Victoria, & Kathleen Perkin, University of Victoria

HIV, Disclosure and the Law
Friday March 26th, 2010
1:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.

In Canada, people living with HIV have been
criminally charged, convicted and sent to prison
for not disclosing their HIV status before having
sex. HIV disclosure and criminal law bring together
many complex legal and social issues. People
living with HIV, and people who provide services
to them, want to know:
• In what circumstances do people living
with HIV have a legal duty to disclose their
HIV status before having sex?
• What can happen to them if they fail to
disclose their HIV status even though they
have a duty?

Presented by Glenn Betteridge Legal researcher and Community Advocate

Location:

AIDS Vancouver Island
3rd Floor Access Health Centre
713 Johnson Street

Registration is free.
Light snacks, tea and
coffee will be served.

Please RSVP at:
Online registration (preferred)

Guy sex on your mind? Do the survey…

Sex Now: Exploring gay sex and mental health

Sex Now is an annual survey about sex between men. Click here to fill it out!

The information from this survey is used to plan health initiatives for gay men. The questions are frank and explicit. Your responses are completely anonymous. Your participation is an important contribution to promoting gay men’s health.

AIDS Vancouver Island and the Victoria Cool Aid Society have announced that another $100,000 has been raised for the Access Health Centre. This $5.3 million building project is supported by the partner agencies, government, foundations, businesses and individuals. Just $900,000 remains to meet the mortgage-free goal.

The building at 713 Johnson Street, occupied since September 2009, is now home to counsellors from the Victoria Native Friendship Centre offering renewed downtown access to urban First Nations services. Later in the year, VIHA will also be moving some of their mental health and addiction services onto the second floor. These valuable partners will add to the integration of services available at the Access Health Centre which provides primary care, dental care, counselling and mental health services to the homeless and other vulnerable, at-risk populations, with a team approach that has been applauded by government, health care professionals and the community.

When: Wednesdays from 4:00-8:00pm
Where: AIDS Vancouver Island, 713 Johnson St, Third Floor
What: A Drop-in Health Clinic for members of the Members of Street Community and People who use Drugs
Get out of the Cold, and get well!!
Coffee and snack on hand while you wait to see a Nurse
For more info please contact Shane @ 384-2366 (ext 2188)

All workshops are interactive and include group games and discussion.
Bonus: Experiential speakers available upon request!

HIV/AIDS: The Basics – This workshop is a basic introduction to HIV/AIDS, including how HIV affects someone’s health over time, how the virus can spread, testing for HIV and how to prevent transmission.

Hep C: The Basics – Another great introduction workshop, only this time covering Heptatitis C! We will talk about how liver health and function is affected by the Hep C virus, as well as how Hep C is transmitted. This is partnered with prevention information related to substance use and safer body art.

Sex, Society & You – A safe space for youth to use a critical lens to explore how social messages and media imagery can impact our ideas about sex and sexuality. Includes an examination of social messaging, and how they impact our definitions of healthy vs. unhealthy relationships.

The BC Government has advised the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority to balance their $2.9 billion dollar budget and recoup their $90 million deficit. The Vancouver Costal Health authority initiated financial reviews of 200 Community Based Health Organization's (CBHO's) contracts, under their funding jurisdiction, to find areas where they can recoup some of the health authority's huge deficit.

These financial reviews amount to three phases of funding cuts. The first rolled out on World AIDS Day 2009 (December 1) and the next two phases of cuts are set to hit Community Based Health Organizations in the fiscal year 2010/2011.

These first set of cuts equate to around $0.75 to $1 million in savings to the Health Authority, in order to make a small dent to their $90 million deficit. These cuts will have a devastating and long lasting impact to Community Based Health Organizations.

For more information visit cancelthecuts.org.

Watch the SHAW coverage of the official opening of the Access Health Centre.

Access Health Centre Celebrates Grand Opening from Victoria Cool Aid Society on Vimeo.

POSITION TITLE: Counsellor- Casual on call

DEPARTMENT: Positive Wellness Program

SUPERVISIOR: Program Manager

BARGAINING UNIT: Health Services & Support Community Subsector Association

CLASSIFICATION: Advocate – GRID 10
($20.11 per hour + 10.2% in lieu of benefits)

______________________________________________________________________

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direct supervision of the Program Manager, or designate, the Counsellor is responsible for the provision and delivery of direct services to persons living with HIV/AIDS in the Central and North Island.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES

1. Advocates on behalf of clients with various Ministries and agencies to ensure clients receive maximum information and support.

2. Provides advocacy to clients by performing duties such as speaking on their behalf in areas such as housing, medical, legal and other support agencies.

The Positive Women`s Network has launched a new website for women over 40.

Youshouldknow.ca is dedicated to women over 40 and their sexual health. The site provides clear, supportive information about sexual health and sexually transmitted infections so we can fully enjoy sex and relationships as women move into their middle years with partners new and old. Share resources and wisdom- women haven't gained their life experience for nothing!

Get the answers at www.youshouldknow.ca