AIDS Prevention Agency Buoyed By its Growth

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.

[This story was published in the North American Weekly Gleaner, Oct. 18-24, 2018 issue.]