Vancouver HIV/AIDS
Care Co-ordinating Committee
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Documents: Environment Report 1999-2002
This is a companion document to the Strategic Plan and a work in progress; this version March 31, 2000

APPENDICES

STRATEGIC PLAN AT A GLANCE

VISION

To reduce population vulnerability to HIV infection and improve the health of people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS

MISSION

To maximize information sharing, collaboration, planning and action by organizations that have the potential to reduce the vulnerability of the general population and of particular population groups in Vancouver to HIV infection, and to improve the health status of those populations infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

In order to accomplish its mission, the committee will:

  • Foster an inter-agency environment that supports the exchange of diverse opinion
  • Identify current and emerging issues in HIV/AIDS epidemiology, research, education, prevention and care, treatment and support
  • Develop collaborative, multi-sectoral approaches to addressing these issues
  • Strengthen the capacity of the overall community and responsible authorities to respond to the changing nature of the HIV epidemic
  • Create a strategic plan every four years with the involvement of the larger community of HIV/AIDS service organizations to co-ordinate the efforts of committee members
  • Strengthen the capacity of member agencies to implement the strategic plan and to use the plan as a framework to guide their own strategic and annual service planning
  • Implement the strategic plan and monitor its progress on an ongoing basis
  • Recommend action to be taken by the committee, member agencies, HIV/AIDS service organizations, key decision makers and the overall community

VALUES

  • Inclusion
  • Contribution
  • Co-operation

DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

  • Living and Working Conditions
  • Individual Capacities and Skills
  • Social Environments
  • Health Services
STRATEGIC GOALS
  1. To promote living and working conditions that maximize the health and well-being of people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
  1. To support actions that provide an adequate income for people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
  2. To support actions that improve the social support networks of people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
  3. To support actions that provide educational opportunities for people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
  4. To support actions that address the unemployment, underemployment and working conditions of people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
  5. To support actions that address negative factors in the natural and human-built environment of people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
PRIORITY STRATEGIES 
  • Take actions to ensure income support measures better meet actual living costs in Vancouver 
  • Take actions to improve access to food which is safe, nutritious, affordable and culturally appropriate 
  • Take actions to create opportunities for healthy social participation through volunteering, education and peer support 
  • Take actions to provide safe spaces for HIV-positive populations to meet 
  • Take actions to improve access to formal education programs for people living with HIV/AIDS and target populations 
  • Take actions to have workplace policies on HIV/AIDS broadly adopted and accepted by employers/employees 
  • Take actions to increase opportunities for people living with HIV/AIDS whose health has stabilized significantly to return to work 
  • Take actions to increase the number of units of safe, affordable and appropriate housing with greater access for people living with HIV/AIDS and target populations
 POPULATION HEALTH OUTCOMES
  • Increased levels of income assistance for people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
  • Increased participation in healthy social support networks by people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
  • Increased access to educational opportunities for people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
  • Increased access to training/re-training for people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
  • Increased rate of entry/re-entry to workplace for people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
  • Increased safety, security and fairness in the workplace for people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
  • Increased availability of affordable and appropriate housing for people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
  • Increased housing security for people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
STRATEGIC GOALS
  1. To enhance individual capacities and skills that maximize the health and well-being of people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
  1. To support actions that enhance the emotional, mental, spiritual and physical capacity of people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
  2. To support actions that strengthen healthy coping skills and health practices for people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
  3. To support actions that enable the healthy development of children and youth infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
  4. To support actions that take into account the underlying biology or genetic pre-dispositions of people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
PRIORITY STRATEGIES 
  • Take actions to improve HIV prevention and personal health education for people living with HIV/AIDS 
  • Take actions to improve HIV education and prevention programs for the general population and target populations 
  • Take actions to improve harm reduction education for the general population and target populations 
  • Take actions to increase the use of harm reduction practices by target populations 
  • Take actions to improve prenatal and postnatal care for women living with HIV/AIDS 
  • Take actions to provide effective care, planning and support for children born with HIV/AIDS and for children with seropositive parents 
  • Take actions to provide effective care, planning and support for children, youth and young adults living with FAS/FAE
 POPULATION HEALTH OUTCOMES
  • Increased knowledge of how to maximize health status while HIV positive 
  • Increased life expectancy and quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS 
  • Increased knowledge of the health risks and impacts of HIV/AIDS among the general population and target populations 
  • Decreased rate of HIV infection among the general population and target populations 
  • Increased sensitivity of HIV/AIDS service system to the needs of people whose inherent biology or genetic composition makes them vulnerable to HIV infection 
  • Increased access to services by people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS because of inherent biology or genetic composition


 
 

STRATEGIC GOALS

To foster social environments that maximize the health and well-being of people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDSSTRATEGIC GOALS

  • To support actions that ensure basic human rights and procedural protections are accorded to people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
  • To support actions that promote social acceptance of people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
  • To support actions that address gender inequality and bias experienced by people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
  • To support actions that address cultural inequality and bias experienced by people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
  • To support actions that address lifelong social and economic deprivation experienced by people infected and affected by or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
  
PRIORITY STRATEGIES 
  • Take actions to ensure greater understanding by service systems of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and its implications for service delivery 
  • Take actions to have harm reduction principles and practices incorporated into the health care, social services, legal and correctional systems 
  • Take actions to address the unique psychosocial and health needs of women 
  • Take actions to address the unique psychosocial and health needs of transgendered populations 
  • Take actions to address the unique psychosocial and health needs of gay men 
  • Take actions to improve access to culturally and linguistically appropriate HIV/AIDS prevention, education and health care services for target populations 
  • Take actions to promote the implementation of recommendations in The Red Road: An Aboriginal Strategy for HIV/AIDS in BC 
  • Take actions to address the unique psychosocial and health needs of people who have experienced lifelong social and economic deprivation
 POPULATION HEALTH OUTCOMES
  • Increased consumer satisfaction with fairness and respect in community and public service delivery 
  • Increased public acceptance of people who engage in risk behaviours 
  • Increased implementation of harm reduction practices by publicly funded institutions 
  • Increased availability of gender and transgender-specific HIV/AIDS education, care, treatment and support services 
  • Increased availability of culturally appropriate HIV/AIDS education, care, treatment and support services 
  • Increased access to HIV/AIDS services by target cultural populations 
  • Increased sensitivity of HIV/AIDS education, care, treatment and support services to the needs of extremely socially and economically deprived people 


 
 

STRATEGIC GOALS
  1. To advocate for available, effectively co-ordinated, accessible and responsive health services for people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
 STRATEGIC GOALS
  1. To advocate for health services that are designed to prevent the spread of HIV infection
  2. To advocate for health services that maintain, improve and restore the health and functioning of people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
  3. To advocate for health services that address gaps and avoid unnecessary duplication in prevention, care, treatment and support for people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
  4. To advocate for health services that are client-centred, culturally sensitive and accessible to all people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
  5. To advocate for health services that anticipate and respond to the changing needs of people infected and affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS 
PRIORITY STRATEGIES 
  • Take actions to ensure the following HIV/AIDS health-related services are augmented, and to improve access for target populations: 
  • prevention services 
  • pre-test and post-test counseling 
  • health education, including peer-based treatment information 
  • clinic services 
  • counseling, including 
  • grief and loss support 
  • physician expertise 
  • case management 
  • rehabilitation services 
  • home-based care 
  • day care and respite care 
  • alcohol and drug treatment 
  • psychiatric and mental health care 
  • palliative care 
  • queer-friendly, queer-supportive, non-judgmental health care 
  • Take actions to ensure accidental exposure guidelines are available in public institutions
 POPULATION HEALTH OUTCOMES
  • Increased availability of health services along the continuum of care from prevention to palliative care 
  • Increased access to health services by people living with HIV/AIDS and target populations 
  • Increased use of recognized best practices in health service design and delivery by health service providers 
  • Increased involvement by people living with HIV/AIDS and target populations 
  • Increased use of universal precautions by health care workers and facilities


 

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

ABORIGINAL
Indian, Metis and Inuit people (Constitution Act, 1982)

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
AIDS is a constellation of various diseases indicative of an impaired immune system caused by the HIV virus.

ANTIRETROVIRAL
Antiretroviral refers to a type of drug, or pharmaceutical compound, that is specifically designed to prevent the reproduction of retroviruses, such as HIV. People often use the simpler term "antivirals". There are several types of antiviral drugs currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat HIV: nucleoside analogs, non-nucleoside analogs and protease inhibitors. Only a few antivirals have been approved in Canada and these are still being evaluated. There has been a considerable amount of controversy about using antivirals because of their side effects and the fact that little is known about their long-term effects. (Encyclopedia of AIDS: A Social, Political, Cultural and Scientific Record of the HIV Epidemic)

FAS/FAE (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects)
FAS/FAE are medical diagnoses that refer to a set of alcohol-related disabilities associated with the use of alcohol during pregnancy. The minimum criteria for diagnosing FAS are prenatal and/or post natal growth restriction, central nervous system dysfunction, and characteristic facial features.

GOAL
A goal is a statement of what is to be achieved at some point in the future. Strategic goals establish the overall direction of an organization. They focus more on an end-state than specific accomplishments (see Objective).

HEALTH STATUS
Health status is the state of health of an individual and, by extension, the state of health of the overall population. Health status has been traditionally measured by length of life (life expectancy), rates of disease and death (mortality and morbidity) and physical health and functioning. Today, health status is also measured by years of healthy life, quality of life and well-being, the impact of health problems on everyday life, and mental, social and emotional health (Report on the Health of Canadians, Health Canada).

HIV (Human Immuno-deficiency Virus)
HIV is a virus that causes AIDS. It attacks the cells of the immune system. HIV is passed from one person to another by the exchange of infected blood, semen, vaginal fluid or breast-milk. After infection, HIV gradually weakens the immune system and the body is unable to fight off infections. (Canadian Aids Society)

MISSION
A mission statement describes the fundamental reason for an organization’s existence. It describes the nature of an organization’s day to day business or operations. It establishes what an organization does, for whom and the major philosophical premises under which it operates.

OBJECTIVE
An objective is a specific and measurable description of what is to be achieved. Whereas a goal is broadly stated, an objective is more focused and narrowly stated.

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR
A performance indicator is a unit of information that measures or tracks an organization’s success in achieving intended results. It is specifically worded to identify the characteristic or change that indicates a result has been achieved. A performance indicator identifies the statistic that will best summarize performance, usually a number, rate or percentage.

POPULATION HEALTH OUTCOME
A population health outcome is a desired or intended result for a given population group. It is usually concerned with the longer term or ultimate effects of a particular action on society, rather than the shorter term effects of a program or service on the participants.

QUEER FRIENDLY
Queer friendly refers to organizations, services and programs which are responsive to and aware of the issues facing gay men, lesbians, bisexual and transgendered persons.

SEROCONCORDANT
Seroconcordant refers to the relationship between two individuals of the same HIV serostatus, where both are HIV negative or both are HIV positive.

SERODISCORDANT
Serodiscordant refers to the relationship between two individuals where one individual is HIV positive and the other is HIV negative.

SEROPOSITIVE
Seropositive refers to an individual whose blood contains the Human Imuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)

SERVICE OUTCOME
A service outcome is the desired or intended result of a particular service or program. This type of outcome is usually directly attributable to the service or program. A service outcome primarily benefits the consumer or participant, although there may be secondary benefits to the larger community or population groups.

STRATEGY
A strategy is an action, pattern of actions or a plan to achieve a desired result. It can be used by an organization to marshal and allocate resources to support al position (or goal) based on internal competencies and anticipated changes in the operating environment.

TRANSGENDER
Transgender is often used as an umbrella term to describe people who do not fit into society’s assigned gender roles. Transgendered people usually make the transition from male to female, or vice versa, either with or without the assistance of hormones and/or surgery. This term is sometimes used interchangeably with transsexual, although transsexuals usually transition with hormones and/or surgery. (The Centre--the Community Centre Serving and Supporting Lesbian, Gay, Transgendered, Bisexual People and their Allies)

TWO-SPIRIT PEOPLE
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgendered Aboriginal people (The Red Road; Pathways to Wholeness: An Aboriginal Strategy for HIV and AIDS in BC).

UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS
Universal precautions are general measures intended to prevent the transmission of blood-borne pathogens, especially HIV and the hepatitis-B virus (HBV), between health care workers and patients. They are designed to prevent contact between certain potentially infectious bodily fluids of one person and the mucous membranes or non-intact skin of others. Universal precautions focus on the avoidance of accidental punctures by used needles or scalpels and involve the use of protective barriers such as latex gloves, adherence to established procedures for use/disposal of sharp objects, and immunization of health care workers for HBV. Universal precautions are especially important in exposure-prone invasive procedures such as surgery. (Encyclopedia of AIDS: A Social, Political, Cultural and Scientific Record of the HIV Epidemic)

VALUES
Values are an expression of what an organization or individual stands for and who it will conduct itself. Values are a promise of action; they form the moral and ethical basis for decision making. It is critical that organizational values are not only seen to exist, but are demonstrably upheld by every member of an organization and by every policy, procedure, practice and process.

VISION
A vision describes what an organization is striving to become in the future. It paints a picture of an ideal world that an organization wants to help create. A vision is intended to galvanize an organization into greater action and co-operation.

VULNERABILITY
Vulnerability in the context of HIV/AIDS means having little of no control over the risk of acquiring HIV infection or, for those already infected with or affected by HIV, to have little or no access to appropriate care and support. Vulnerability is the net result of the interplay among many personal (including biological) and societal factors, and can be increased by a range of cultural, demographic, legal, economic and political factors. (United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS).
 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
 

Amy Algard Friends For Life Society
Dr. Cheryl Anderson Medical Officer of Health, Vancouver/Richmond Health Board
Bob Barraclough Ministry of Children and Families, Alcohol and Drug Programs
Sharon Belli Ministry of Human Resources
Deborah Brady High Risk Society
Barbara Brand Wings Housing Society
Palmira Brouwer Strathcona Mental Health Team, GVMHS
Evanna Brennan North Unit, Vancouver/Richmond Health Board
Lois Brummett BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
Christopher Buchner Youth Community Outreach AIDS Society (YouthCO)
Dr. David Burdge Oak Tree Clinic
Wayne Campbell BC Persons With AIDS Society
Kathy Churchill Vancouver Native Health Society
Patricia Cifuentes Vancouver Hospital HIV/AIDS Team
Ken Clement Healing Our Spirit BC First Nations AIDS Society
Magdalena Clerc-Ybarguen AIDS Vancouver
Tobin Copley UBC Dept. of Health Care and Epidemiology
Shirley Cox Correctional Services Canada (CSC)
Kathleen Cummings DAMS
Maxine Davis Dr. Peter Centre (Vancouver HIV/AIDS Care Coordinating Committee co-chair)
Linda Dean Correctional Services Canada (CSC)
Paul de Leon Wings Housing Society
Duane Etienne Assembly of First Nations
Joyce Evans Northeast Mental Health Team, GVMHS
Bayron Figueroa Storefront Orientation Services (SOS)
Dr. Stephen Fitzpatrick St. Paul’s Hospital
Dr. Jack Forbes Oak Tree Clinic
Ron Fremont Youth Community Outreach AIDS Society (YouthCO)
Susan Giles Vancouver/Richmond Health Board
Irene Goldstone BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, UBC School of Nursing
Deborah Graham AIDS Vancouver
Dr. Peter Granger Downtown South Community Health Centre
Diane Hale BCCPD AIDS and Disability Project
Robin Hanvelt UBC Dept. of Health Care and Epidemiology, BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
Ross Harvey BC Persons With AIDS Society
Heather Hay Vancouver/Richmond Health Board
Terry Howard Friends For Life Society
Stephen James Community Health Resource Project
Andrew Johnson AIDS Vancouver
Elena Kanigan AIDS Division, Ministry of Health
Tyleen Katz St. James Community Services Society
Rob Kolen Vancouver/Richmond Health Board
Henry Koo Health Canada
Joel Leung Asia Society for Intervention of AIDS (ASIA)
Doreen Littlejohn Vancouver Native Health Society
Anne Livingstone Vancouver and Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU)
Dr. Ian Mackie Vancouver Hospital HIV/AIDS Team
Malsah Hummingbird Kids Society
Judy McGuire Downtown Eastside Youth Activities Society (DEYAS)
Ian McKeown MacLaren Housing Society
Dr. Alistair McLeod St. Paul’s Hospital
Laura Mervyn AIDS Vancouver
Mary Lou Miller Vanguard Project
Pamela Miller St. Paul’s Hospital
Sue Moen A Loving Spoonful
Gillian Neumann Addiction Services, Ministry for Children and Families
Warren O’Briain AIDS Vancouver (Vancouver HIV/AIDS Care Coordinating Committee co-chair)
Jim O’Dea BC Housing
Dr. David Patrick BC Centre for Disease Control
Victor Peralta Vancouver Native Health Society
Doug Perry BC Persons With AIDS Society
Dr. Peter Phillips IDC, St. Paul’s Hospital
Denise Price Hummingbird Kids Society
Donna Raketti Correctional Services Canada (CSC)
Rosemary Riddell St. Paul’s Hospital
Sharon Ritmiller Vancouver/Richmond Health Board
David Schneider UBC Dept. of Health Care and Epidemiology
Josephine Stebbings Youth Community Outreach AIDS Society (YouthCO)
Lou Stone BC Housing
Kerstin Stuerzbecher Portland Hotel Society
Marcie Summers Positive Women’s Network
Susanna Tan Asia Society for Intervention of AIDS (ASIA)
Mark Townsend Portland Hotel Society
Geraldine Trimble Healing Our Spirit BC First Nations AIDS Society
John Turvey Downtown Eastside Youth Activities Society (DEYAS)
Brian Wardley Heart of Richmond AIDS Society
Catherine White Downtown South Community Health Centre
Jim Woodward BC Housing
Art Zoccole Red Road HIV/AIDS Network
Al Zwiers Gilwest Clinic, Westminster Health Centre, Richmond Hospital

DIRECTORY OF SERVICES

This directory contains a partial list of organizations in Vancouver serving people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. For a more complete list of organizations and description of their programs and services, please consult Information Services Vancouver (the "Red Book").

Addiction Services, Ministry for Children and Families: The network of services for people impacted by alcohol, drug and gambling problems, including outpatient, detox, residential, supportive recovery, day treatment and prevention programs. Information and counseling are provided to individuals, couples, families and groups.

AIDS Vancouver: The wide range of HIV/AIDS-related volunteer assignments coordinated by this organization provides hundreds of opportunities for those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS to contribute to the community while engaging in and building social support networks.

BC Persons With AIDS Society: A membership organization, BCPWA’s support department offers a range of participatory programs that build social networks among its more than 3,000 members.

Boys R Us: This drop-in for male sex trade workers operates out of the Downtown South Community Health Centre and is staffed by representatives and volunteers from nearly a dozen organizations.

DAMS: This harm reduction program offers outreach, case management, accompaniments and one-to-one and group support for women who have or have had a problem with alcohol or drugs and who are living with or at risk for HIV.

Dr. Peter Centre: This organization provides a unique health care service to individuals living with HIV/AIDS who face life threatening health deterioration. The day program offers a wide range of social, leisure, recreational and therapeutic day i,residence is a bright comfortable home offering 24 hour support, including palliative care, to 10 residents who are unable to manage independent living even with available community health care support.

Food for Thought: This organization provides nutritious meals and an opportunity for social support to persons living with HIV/AIDS in the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood.

Friends for Life: This organization provides more than 50 health and wellness programs without charge to its members. The goal of all programs is to help members cope with the anxiety and stress of living with a life threatening illness while improving their overall quality of life. Among the programs available are support groups, one-on-one counseling, a resource library, workshops on a wide variety of topics, massage therapies, social support and meals.

Heart of Richmond AIDS Society: This organization offers a support group for persons living with HIV/AIDS and raises the profile of AIDS issues within the Richmond community.

High Risk: This organization provides a social support network and health information to transgendered communities.

Hummingbird Kids Society provides a network of support and services to children living with HIV/AIDS and their families. The Society is for children up to 15 years of age and has three main programs. The Sunshine Program brings memories to children and families in the form of birthday recognition, recreational and event activities. The Katie Becker Family Support Program matches volunteers with children to provide a buddy and companionship. The What About the Kids? Program offers a speaker’s bureau, a newsletter and bringing awareness to the public about the unique problems facing children living with HIV/AIDS.

McLaren Housing Society provides housing for people living with HIV/AIDS through its Helmcken House program and portable housing subsidies funded by government and the private sector.

Neutron Café: This ongoing social event is designed to include seropositive gay men.

Positive Women’s Network: This membership organization for women offers a wide range of programs designed to build social networks and decrease isolation, including a women’s drop-in, lunch, support groups and outings.

Vancouver Native Health Society: Drop-in services, offered in conjunction with a clinic, provide a supportive setting for the development of social networks among area residents in the Downtown Eastside.

Vancouver and Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU): This consumer organization has taken a public stance advocating the development of supportive social environments for drug users that can lead to reduced harm and positive individual and societal change. Peer counseling initiatives have been designed to build social networks on a one-to-one basis.

Wings Housing Society: Wings is a provincial organization for persons living with HIV/AIDS. The organization currently administers 102 portable housing subsidies funded jointly by CMHC and BC Housing. Wings operates The Bonaventure, an apartment residence near St. Paul’s Hospital for those who are able to live independently.

WISH: This organization provides a safe drop-in space for women who are street connected or involved in the sex trade, and provides some basic human supports such as food, showers, and foot care.

YouthCO AIDS Society, Positive Outreach Program: This program features outreach and social support for HIV-positive youth, with a particular focus on street involved young people and young gay men. Two part-time outreach workers are available for psychosocial support and plan regular social events and activities that address the isolation experienced by many seropositive youth.