AIDS Vancouver

Alexander, Ivy L., ed. AIDS sourcebook
Detroit, Omnigraphics, 2008  New edition!
>> For more information or to borrow this book
"Provides basic consumer health information about transmission, testing, and treatment of HIV and related complications, along with tips on living with HIV/AIDS. Includes index, glossary of related terms and directory of resources."

Card, Josefina J.; Solomon, Julie; Berman, Jacqueline. Tools for building culturally competent HIV prevention programs
New York, Springer Publishing Company LLC, 2008
>> For more information or to borrow this book
Recent literature on effective HIV/AIDS prevention programs underscores the importance of cultural sensitivity and cultural competence in the delivery of services and care. Successful prevention interventions must be tailored for their target populations. Tools for Building Culturally Competent HIV Prevention Programs contains a variety of evidence-based approaches to HIV prevention, offering all the tools practitioners need to launch an effective program: from identifying program goals and objectives, to developing program models, to recruiting and retaining staff, and finally to conducting evaluations and reporting results. All material is filtered through a cultural perspective and methods are tailored to specific racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.

Mate, Gabor. In the realm of hungry ghosts : Close encounters with addiction
Toronto, Alfred A. Knopf Canada, 2008
>> For more information or to borrow this book
"For over ten years, Gabor Mate has been the staff physician at the Portland Hotel, a residence and harm reduction facility in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. His patients are challenged by life-threatening drug addictions, mental illness, Hepatitis C or HIV, and, in many cases, all four (...) Beginning with a dramatically close view of his drug-addicted patients, Dr. Mate looks at his own history of compulsive behaviour. He interweaves the stories of real people who have struggled with addiction and the latest research on addiction and the brain (...) He proposes a compassionate approach to helping drug addicts, and, for the many behavior or "softer" addicts among us, to addressing the void addiction is meant to fill."

Nursing care of patients with HIV/AIDS : Participant's guide
Arlington, VA, Family Health International (FHI), 2007
>> For more information or to borrow this book
Also available online
Since the inception of the epidemic, nurses have played a crucial role in caring for individuals infected with HIV. Especially in resource-limited settings, nurses have assumed multiple responsibilities in HIV care and treatment, both traditional nursing roles and in new areas to effectively meet the needs of those living with the infection. Family Health International is proud to announce the publication of Nursing Care of Patients with HIV/AIDS, a package of training materials for nurses who care for patients with HIV/AIDS. This course provides nurses in resource-limited areas with evidence-based knowledge they can use to deliver safe, effective nursing care to their patients.

Saewyc, Elizabeth M.; MacKay, Laura J.; Anderson, Jayson. It's not what you think : sexually exploited youth in British Columbia
Vancouver, BC, University of British Columbia School of Nursing, 2008
>> For more information or to borrow this book
Also available online
The research in this report shatters some of the myths about sexual exploitation among youth in British Columbia. The study is drawn from surveys of youth in multiple cities across the province over the past several years. The results document the experiences of more than 500 youth who have been sexually exploited during their teens, and compares their lives with youth in similar circumstances who have not been exploited. The authors believe that this is the largest study of sexually exploited youth and their experiences across multiple cities in British Columbia, and possibly in Canada.

McCall, Douglas S. Teaching sexual health education - A primer for new teachers, a refresher for experienced teachers
Canada, Sexualityandu, [2007]
>> For more information or to borrow this book
Available online
A Primer for New Teachers, A Refresher for Experienced Teachers is a comprehensive guide for teachers who are delivering sexual education information to students in high schools. The primer will provide you on background information and relevant research on sexual health education that teachers should be aware of. Prepared for www.sexualityandu.ca by Douglas S. McCall, the Executive Director of the Canadian Association for School Health, this primer offers evidence-based better practices in sexual health education in a summarized format, and offers some practical advice for implementing each of those better practices.

The complete list of new acquisitions is available on our online catalogue.

Coming this week!

AIDS Vancouver will be launching on July 17 two new documents:
the HIV/AIDS Education Handbook and the AIDS Vancouver Orientation Handbook!

The HIV/AIDS Education Handbook provides an introduction to HIV/AIDS and its many related issues and complexities. Each section presents key information and trends, current findings and research, local and global facts and opportunities to reflect on the content offered. Relevant materials, a comprehensive glossary and a resource list are included to support further learning. The AIDS Vancouver Orientation Handbook is an introduction to AIDS Vancouver and volunteerism at the agency. It provides an overview of the agency as well as insight into the value, participation and meaningful impacts of volunteerism within all levels of the agency for new, current and prospective volunteers.
Click on the covers to access the publications. See also our 10 fact sheets in the HIV Info section of the website.

You are invited to AIDS Vancouver’s
Annual General meeting.

At this Meeting members can vote and help shape the direction of the Agency.
Current members are encouraged to vote, and those interested in becoming members or renewing their membership can do so at the event. The membership application form is also available on our website.

Light refreshments will be served.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
5:30 p.m.
1107 Seymour Street, Vancouver, B.C.

For more information, please contact Susan Christoffersen at 604-696-4201 or susanc@aidsvancouver.org

AIDS Vancouver exists to alleviate individual and collective vulnerability to HIV and AIDS through support, public education and community based research.

View this page in PDF.

PREVENT. ACT. SUPPORT. For the last 25 years AIDS Vancouver has done exactly that. And has done it with great success.

In 1983 AIDS Vancouver rose to the challenge of an emerging disease that was wreaking havoc on the gay community. AIDS Vancouver was one of the first AIDS Service Organizations in Canada and over the last quarter century has evolved to meet the ever changing landscape of this disease by providing a comprehensive range of health promotion, education and support services.

AIDS Vancouver offers the most complete HIV/AIDS resource centre in Western Canada; An anonymous and confidential information HelpLine for anyone with questions about HIV and AIDS; A Client Services department with a much valued support program, a grocery program and the lauded case management program, and; The newly revised Prevention Services department will target at-risk populations in our community and will use testing as the entry point to initiate a range of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention strategies. AIDS Vancouver's recently developed, and acclaimed, HIV/AIDS Education Handbook will play a prominent role in our new prevention programming.

Thanks to the dedicated staff and a spirited team of committed volunteers these services are delivered successfully to a wide range of people in our community every day.

With the agreement to transition the primary responsibility of gay men's health programming (including the services offered by Gayway) from AIDS Vancouver to the Health Initiative for Men (HIM) in place and a new Executive Director set to provide guidance and leadership AIDS Vancouver can continue to grow and evolve in the community it serves.

Read our FAQs to learn more.

Sincerely,
Ruthann Tucker.
Interim Executive Director

Job Summary:

Working within a harm reduction model, Case Managers deliver services to agency clients by supporting the development of personalized health care plans which contain, as appropriate, strategies for improved medical support, housing, income, psycho-social needs and individual capacities as well as avenues to establish linkages with other community resources.

Duties:

• Consults with Case Management Supervisor and/or Director of Programs and Services on client issues and case planning;
• Strives to assist persons living with HIV/AIDS to achieve stabilized and sustained health, and to improve their quality of life;
• Assesses client needs in the areas of health care, housing, income, social support, legal issues, practical needs, and harm-reduction;
• Develops service plans based upon client-identified needs and establishes tasks and timelines for the client-identified needs;
• Advocates on behalf of clients to address barriers to service;
• Maintains thorough knowledge of eligibility criteria, application processes and appeals procedures for government and community programs/services;
• Liaises with service providers to ensure client access to services;
• Maintains current knowledge of resources and services;
• Networks with service providers and builds collaborative inter-agency partnerships;
• Coordinates network of services on behalf of clients by bridging communication gaps between client and service providers, attending, and/or arranging client case conferences and accompanying clients to appointments as appropriate;
• Ensures on-going support to clients by developing mutually agreed upon long-term contact plan, maintaining contact via regular appointments, home visits and telephone calls;
• Refers clients to other AIDS Vancouver support services and/or other community services;
• Completes all necessary case management documentation for client files
• Attends bi-weekly case consultations and up-date meetings with case manager supervisor,
• Participates in special projects to strengthen and develop case management program as assigned;
• Participates in professional development opportunities as required;
• Attends all staff meetings as called by the Executive Director an/or the Director of Programs and Services when scheduled during regular working hours;
• Complies with agency policies and procedures;
• Performs other related duties as required

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor degree in a health related discipline (such as Social Work, Clinical Psychology or Nursing) and two years case management experience in a community setting or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience;
• Eligible for registration with the Board of Registration for Social Workers in B.C. preferred.
• Demonstrated skills in program development and building partnerships among allied service providers;
• Direct work experience with the gay, bisexual, transgendered, injection drug using and/or refugee communities.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing;
• Thorough knowledge of HIV/AIDS and related issues;
• Knowledge of issues related to diversity, and to the needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS;
• Ability to plan, organize and prioritize;
• Ability to work both independently and in cooperation with others;
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position;
• Ability to operate related equipment;
• Ability to analyze and resolve problems.

Closing Date for applications: July 31, 2008
Please send cover letter and resume to:
Heather Hoiness, Case Management Supervisor: heatherh@aidsvancouver.org
1107 Seymour Street Vancouver BC V6B 5S8

Although we consider every application carefully, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. AIDS Vancouver is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applications from those of diverse backgrounds (incl. gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, community origin, and HIV status).

"The Storm" is a story of world issues that affect us most: disease, poverty, and international warfare. Filmed on-location in Eastern Africa, director Ross Birchall takes you to the heart of the matter: rural villages, medical clinics, government meetings, and more. Prepare for a true eye-opening look at the struggle to overcome world poverty, the thriving drug trade, and international disputes, alongside a message of hope and determination to break new ground in the fight to eradicate HIV/AIDS.

It will be shown in Vancouver on July 4, 2008 at the Vancity Theatre. Proceeds will benefit AIDS Vancouver.

http://www.thestormfilm.com

During the Summer, the library will only be open Monday-Thursday, 9am-4pm.

We are sorry for the inconvenience and will do our best to keep providing the best service in a timely fashion.