Three team members from ACAS, an organization serving this community, speak to IN about the challenges they face…
Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) is a charitable, non-profit, community-based organization located in Toronto. It provides safer-sex education and services to the East and Southeast Asian communities as well as support services to persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ communities. Its goal is to meet the needs and be the voice of the East and Southeast Asian community in Toronto.
ACAS began its work on World AIDS Day, December 1, 1994. Since then, with the support of organizations like ViiV Healthcare Canada, the organization has continued to organize concerted community efforts to help address some of the ongoing challenges faced year after year by the community.
To understand the breadth of the work that ACAS does, IN spoke with three different ACAS team members, who represent three different generations and roles within the organization.
Ambrose Fan 范家俊, Executive Director
What services does ACAS offer the community?
The core of ACAS has remained the same since 1994: we support people living with HIV. This looks like helping people overcome cultural, linguistic, stigma and resource barriers to health care. We provide referrals and translation services, we accompany people on medical appointments, and we help with income, housing, legal matters, and facilitate peer support and organize social activities.
How is ACAS adapting their programs to meet the ever-evolving needs of the community?
We stay in step with changes in the HIV epidemic. For example, we focus on education, prevention and treatment for groups at higher risk of HIV, like migrant farm workers and international students. These folks lack access to health care for many reasons, but we see them and include them in our community.
Despite rising infection rates seen across Canada, ACAS and other organizations are forced to operate in an environment where HIV/AIDS is no longer as prominent in the public’s mind. What can ACAS do to help keep their vital work top of mind?
The way forward is to keep making the connection between HIV and structural inequities. That’s a conversation in civil society that people understand. I feel encouraged by that. Organizations like ACAS grew out of a social justice movement, and focusing on social justice is how we stay relevant, and get closer to ending HIV.
I wasn’t active in the early days of HIV/AIDS. What people tell me is that they basically did anything they could to help. There were no rules for how to do it. But today the movement has also become a ‘sector.’ There are a lot of rules. How can we hold on to those original values in a corporate, funding-driven environment? And the struggle for social justice keeps changing. For example, how do we reconcile volunteerism with decent work? We’re still envisioning the world we want and trying to build it. It’s rewarding work – and humbling.
Kenneth Poon, Health Promotion Coordinator
What are some of the specific barriers for PLHIV who are over the age of 50?
People newly diagnosed with HIV can sometimes not be aware of the challenges and history of the HIV/AIDS movement. As AIDS service organizations (ASOs) focus more on people who use drugs, mental health concerns, youth, and settlement services, there are fewer services for people who have lived with HIV for many years. Aging PLHIV don’t always know where to seek services,or feel they don’t fit in with other generations or the communities that surround ASOs-which they have helped to build over decades.
What services is ACAS able to provide to support the aging HIV community?
Seventy-five per cent of our support clients are over 50 years old. We provide counselling, case management, educational workshops, social events and therapeutic care [massage and acupuncture]. We also provide educational workshops, from the latest HIV treatments to holistic health gear. More important, ACAS hosts many social gatherings for aging community members so they can increase social engagement and reduce social isolation. Many of our support clients don’t have any family members, and they tend to live alone with limited language skill to communicate in English, so our workshops and social gatherings always have peer translators and help create a strong sense of community.
Katherine Faith Evangelista, Intern (Student; Immigrants and Refugees – Social Services program at Seneca Polytechnic)
How does the new generation of social and community workers see the work?
The work is focused on innovation, inclusivity, empowerment and adaptability. We prioritize personal connections and strive to understand our clients’ unique backgrounds. Cultural awareness, with an anti-oppressive approach, and trauma-informed care are at the forefront of our practice, all delivered with empathy and a non-judgmental manner. I’ve gained valuable insights into the challenges clients face through my interactions with the staff and my classmates. This experience reinforced the significance of empathy in our work and deepened my understanding of clients’ needs and the impact of trauma on their lives. It shapes how we, the new generation, view our work.
What are your hopes for the future of HIV care?
I hope for improved access to HIV treatment and resources for everyone, along with reduced stigma that encourages individuals to seek help. Advancements in medical research are essential for effective treatments and a potential cure, while education on HIV prevention empowers communities. Throughout my nursing career, I’ve seen the harmful effects of stigma and how fear of judgment prevents individuals from seeking help. I envision stronger collaboration among healthcare providers, social and community workers to create holistic support systems that meet medical, emotional, physical and social needs. I also hope to combat misinformation and promote understanding, enhancing care quality and fostering a sense of belonging. Lastly, I hope for a future where individuals with HIV can live fulfilling lives free from discrimination, embracing compassion and understanding.
To learn more about ACAS and resources available to support PLHIV in the East and Southeast Asian communities, visit acas.org. To learn more about ViiV Healthcare Canada, visit www.viivhealthcare.ca.
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