By Neil
Armstrong
Shannon Thomas Ryan, Executive Director of the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP), left, and Andrew B. Campbell, Chair of the Board of Directors |
The Black
Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP) says 2018 will be the single biggest
year of growth in its history.
In his
annual report at the agency’s annual general meeting on September 27, Shannon
Thomas Ryan, executive director said since its 2017 AGM, Black CAP has secured
more than $395,000 in new funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-term
Care, United Way Greater Toronto, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services,
the Toronto Urban Health Fund and others to implement new programs and
services.
This has
resulted in a significant reduction in its accumulated deficit and a reduction
of its $80, 000 liability to approximately $30,000.
“We hope to
eliminate this liability by the end of the 2018/19 fiscal year and then begin
to accumulate a much needed reserve that will allow us to accumulate funds for
unplanned expenses and other programming,” says Ryan in the 2017/2018 annual
report.
He said this
year has also set the foundation for reflection and long-term planning for the
agency.
“The dynamic
nature of our sector requires that Black CAP constantly reflect on its services
as we consider the realities of U=U [Undetectable=Untransmittable], emerging
prevention technologies, access to HIV testing and the persistent opioid
crisis. We will work to support ongoing dialogue about these issues in the
lives of the community members that we work with.”
The Black
Coalition for AIDS Prevention has worked for 29 years to curb the HIV epidemic
in Toronto’s African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities.
Ryan noted
that last year the agency made significant gains such as United Way Greater
Toronto funding a new program for ACB PHAs [People living with HIV/AIDS] who
are experiencing mental health and substance use issues.
The Ministry
of Children and Youth Services is now funding a new clinical youth outreach worker
position through the Ontario Black Youth Action Plan. The program will support
HIV positive and LGBTQ youth in need of clinical counseling supports.
There is
also new funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care’s Harm
Reduction Fund that will allow the agency to double its harm reduction
programming, expanding its harm reduction outreach services beyond the downtown
core into the northwest and southeast of the city.
Black CAP
also has new programming to increase access to pre-exposure
prophylaxis (PrEP), a
mental health intervention for men who have sex with men (MSM), and a new
intervention for youth called ‘Healthy Love’ also received new investments.
Earlier this
year, the agency secured additional funding to divide its program director
position into two new positions: director of support services and director of
health promotion.
Ryan said
these positions will help the agency to better manage its growing
staff,
strengthen programming, better coordinate services and manage staff members.
Staff training
in areas such as conflict resolution and mental health continued to be a focus
over the year.
“Earlier
this year we also negotiated a new benefits plan for our staff, providing
100%
drug coverage. This was an especially important change for our HIV positive
staff,” he said.
Black CAP
has also been engaged in research such as the MSAFIRI study which explores the
context of ACB people who acquired HIV following their migration to Canada.
Ryan said
this will help “us better understand the context
of risk for heterosexual men
and women, MSM and injection drug using communities.”
“We also
continued our participation in pilot studies delivered by other agencies. This
included partnering with Women’s Health in Women’s Hands on the ACB Women Know
Your Status HIV Prevention Project where HIV testing was conducted in community
settings. Our participation included the training of a Black CAP staff to
conduct HIV testing.”
The agency
published an article, “TRANScending Love Arts-Based Workshop to Address
Self-Acceptance and Internalized Stigma among Transgender Women of Color in
Toronto, Canada: Findings from a Qualitative Implementation Science Study,” in
the journal ‘AIDS and Behaviour,’ in collaboration with Dr. Carmen Logie.
Ryan said in
the year ahead, they hope to strengthen how Black CAP engages PHAs in the
day-to-day work of the agency by creating new spaces and programming that is
PHA-led.
Andrew B. Campbell,
board chair, said last year the agency hosted another successful “Joyful
Giving” event under the leadership of the fund development committee raising a
total of $11, 086 towards its emergency financial assistance.
He said like
any group the agency also has a few challenges that it must continue to find
creative ways to convert into accomplishments.
Campbell
said Black CAP will continue to seek ideas and avenues to raise additional
funds for its Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) program.
The annual
fundraiser “Joyful Giving” will be held on November 16 at the United
Steelworkers Hall in Toronto.
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