The African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities of Ontario are disproportionately impacted by HIV infections. Multi-level intersecting factors of different forms of discrimination, underrepresentation among health care and policy making, lack of cultural awareness, as well as general language barriers contributed to complex barriers in accessing appropriate and timely HIV services.
This project was developed with education and community mobilization initiatives aimed to promote increased access rate for HIV testing, utilization of prevention technologies and reduced service barriers for the African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities, in and throughout Canada.
This is a 5 year multi-partnered alliance project that will be implemented in 4 cities (Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario; Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta) through the network of agencies that include:
Africans in Partnership Against AIDS; The Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention of Metropolitan Toronto (BlackCAP); AIDS Committee of Ottawa; Community Alliance for Accessible Treatment; HIV Network of Edmonton Society; The SafeLink Alberta Society; and Women’s Health in Women’s Hands.
In year 1 (2022-2023), the project engaged target community members to:
- conduct community consultations to inform the adaptation of the Community Health Ambassador Model for Alliance Peer Coordinators specific to
ACB sub-populations - develop a peer toolkit to support the implementation of project outreach and education
activities in the upcoming years - develop and disseminate a framework for delivery and national advocacy strategy based on a status- neutral approach, barrier reduction, Anti-Black Racism, Intersectionality, Anti-Oppression, GIPA/ MIPA, SGBA+
In 2023-2024, the project will create outreach/media materials and strategy, procure needed prevention technologies and resources to conduct various educational and health promotion activities at different pop-up sites and events across the cities.