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WHAI Origins
A Provincial HIV Initiative for Women
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The Need
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A coordinated, province-wide strategy to address increases in
HIV among women
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Ontario Working Group on Women and HIV/AIDS
Established by the AIDS Bureau
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Emerging issues, effective prevention strategies, and the best
treatment and support for women living with HIV.
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Ontario Working Group on Women
and HIV/AIDS - Key Findings
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Women’s HIV vulnerability linked to social determinants of
health and individual lived experience
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Role of local community agencies that serve women - important
access point for women
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Few organizations serving women offered HIV-specific
programs and/or developed adequate policies or operational
procedures related HIV/AIDS.
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Women and HIV/AIDS
Initiative Established
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In 2009 The AIDS Bureau funds key communities across
Ontario for Women and HIV/AIDS Community Development
Coordinator positions
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Currently, 17 sites across the province are funded through
WHAI
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WHAI – Key Guiding Principles
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Community Development
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Social Determinants of Health
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Harm Reduction
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Intersectional and Anti-Oppressive
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GIPA/MIPA
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WHAI on the Ground
WHAI in the Community
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WHAI in Local Communities
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Each WHAI Community Development Coordinator housed in
local ASO
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Grounded in local needs, issues and initiatives
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Collaborate with community organizations to build capacity to
respond to women’s HIV-related issues and for integration of
HIV into programs and planning
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Provide consultation and advice around HIV/AIDS to local
organizations that serve women
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Facilitate linkages between local ASOs and service providers
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Examples of Local WHAI Areas of Focus
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Housing
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Pregnancy
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Poverty/employment
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Aboriginal issues
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Settlement/immigration, migrant workers
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Trans issues
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Sex workers’ rights
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Food security
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Prisons
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Stigma, racism, homophobia etc.
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Testing
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Examples of Local WHAI Activities
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Health Forums
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Working Groups/Coalitions/Advisory Groups
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Trainings for service providers
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Building inter-agency partnerships
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Community events
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Identifying and addressing barriers to access (hospitals, police,
testing sites etc)
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Participating/partnering with other provincial initiatives
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Local media appearances
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WHAI and Testing Initiatives
A Snapshot
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WHAI in North Bay, ON
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WHAI Coordinator: Kathleen Jodouin
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Housed at AIDS Committee of North Bay
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Kathleen working with ASO and local Health Unit to address
barriers to testing for women
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WHAI in Peel Region
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WHAI Coordinator: Tina Obwanga
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Housed at PHAN (Peel HIV/AIDS Network)
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WHAI leads testing initiative along with ASO’s HP team to
develop testing campaign
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Raising awareness of HIV testing in Peel region in non-HIV
specific sector
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WHAI in London, ON
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WHAI Coordinator: Bonnie Baynham
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Housed at Regional HIV/AIDS Connection
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ASO involved with ongoing testing initiative “Are You Doin’ It”
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Promotes and brings awareness of HIV testing to community
partners outside HIV-sector
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http://testingweek.ca/
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WHAI in York Region
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WHAI Coordinator: Camille Griffith
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Housed at AIDS Committee of York Region
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Lead local testing drive in conjunction with community
partners at Women’s Community Hub
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Identified barriers to testing: service providers’ capacity,
geography, fear of being identified, effective messaging,
reaching women most vulnerable to HIV
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WHAI in Windsor, ON
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WHAI Coordinator: Stephanie Green
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Housed at AIDS Committee of Windsor
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Works closely with the Blue House Drop-In for Women
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Introducing monthly POC testing
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For More Information:
Mohini Datta-Ray
Manager, Provincial Women and HIV/AIDS Initiative
(416) 340-8484 x 250
mdatta-ray@actoronto.org