Workshop Topics

HIV/AIDS 201

Goal:

• To increase participants’ knowledge of HIV/AIDS: virology, transmission, prevention, testing, treatment, and epidemiology.

Objectives:

To provide participants with:

• An overview of the virology of HIV/AIDS, including an understanding of the impact of HIV on the immune system.
• Accurate information about HIV transmission and prevention.
• An understanding of their role in promoting testing and supporting treatment.
• An opportunity to see the impact of HIV/AIDS locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.

HCV and HIV Coinfection

Goal:

• To increase participants’ knowledge of Hepatitis C and how it impacts people co-infected with HIV.

Objectives:

To provide participants with:

• An overview of the virology of Hepatitis C, including an understanding of the impact on the liver.
• Accurate information about Hepatitis C transmission and prevention.
• An understanding of their role in encouraging accurate and complete testing for Hepatitis C.
• An understanding of the challenges and complexities of treatment.
• An understanding of the impact of Hepatitis C locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.

Harm Reduction

Goal:

• To increase participants understanding of the philosophy and practices of Harm Reduction.

Objectives

• To help participants gain a greater appreciation of the history, principles, and practices of a Harm Reduction approach.
• To engage participants in considering how a Harm Reduction framework could be incorporated into their work.

Disclosure and Legal Issues

Goal:

• To increase participants’ understanding of the implications of the Legal and Public Health environment on people with HIV and their service providers.

Objectives:

• To encourage participants to think about issues relating to the disclosure of HIV status.
• To provide information regarding the criminal law and cases, while addressing the complexity and ambiguity of the application of the law.
• To engage participants in considering the impact of the use of the criminal law and the role of public health.

Tips, Tricks, and Tools

Goal:

• To increase participants’ understanding of the complexity and inter-relatedness of their clients’ issues, while discussing techniques and strategies staff can use when supporting clients living with, or at risk for, HIV.

Objectives:

• To provide tools to address issues presented by an individual living with, or at risk for, HIV and substance use and/or mental health issues.
• To provide helpful resources and ideas about future training opportunities and/or programs in order to better serve clients
• To allow participants and opportunity to share experiences and strategize effective responses.

Stigma and Discrimination

Goal:

• To increase participants’ understanding of the impact that stigma and discrimination have on people with HIV.

Objectives:

• To invite participants to examine their own values, attitudes and beliefs pertaining to people living with HIV/AIDS and people who use substances.
• To examine the origins and impact of specific judgmental attitudes to differences.
• To consider how participants and their organizations may perpetuate HIV stigma and discrimination.
• To assist participants in learning how to manage personal values, attitudes and beliefs in professional roles.

Substances 101

Goal:

• To increase participants knowledge of the use of specific substances.

Objectives:

• To provide an overview of the concept of “Drug, Set and Setting”.
• To look at the concerns and advantages of different methods of administration (e.g., smoking, injecting, snorting).
• To provide factual and non-judgmental information about certain substances particularly related to HIV.

Trans 101 with HIV Risks

Goal:

• To leave participants better aware of how to be trans inclusive by increasing participants’ understanding of terms, definitions, and issues impacting the transgendered/transsexual community.

Objectives:

• To learn new language inclusive of trans clients.
• To understand the social determinants of health for trans clients.
• To explore ways of supporting choices amongst trans clients that minimize risks and reduce transmission of HIV .
• To develop strategies for reducing barriers for trans clients who wish to access services.

Introduction to Substance Use (full day workshop)

Goal:

• To increase participants’ understanding of substance use so that they can better support people in their lives who may use substances, including clients, friends and family.

Objectives:

• To discuss what we mean by substances (drugs).
• To think about reasons people may or may not use substances.
• To look at the continuum of use including abstinence; social, problematic, harmful use; and dependence/addiction.
• To learn about the different methods of taking substances.
• To examine our own attitudes, values and beliefs.
• To consider stigma related to drugs and drugs users.
• To recognize the stages of change and discuss ways we can support others.

Start: 9:00am sharp Finish: 4:30pm

Morning and afternoon breaks plus a 45 minute lunch.

Stigma, Drug Use, and Harm Reduction

Goals:

• To provide participants with an understanding of the impact of stigma on substance users and learn ways in which applying harm reduction can assist when working with our clients.

Objectives:

*To provide participants with:

*An awareness of the cycles of drug stigma

*An understanding of the key concept Drug, Set, Setting

*Knowledge about the ways in which routes of administration may impact substance use

*Understanding about philosophies, programs, and applications of harm reduction