RIBBON COMMUNITY SOCIETY

IN MARCH 2024 AIDS VANCOUVER CHANGED OUR NAME TO RIBBON COMMUNITY OR RIBBON FOR SHORT. THROUGHOUT THIS CHANGE OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES CONTINUED TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV INCLUDING THE GENERATION THAT BUILT AIDS VANCOUVER AS WELL AS PEOPLE IMPACTED BY HIV STIGMA. PEER PROGRAMS: PEER SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE ON AN OUTREACH BASIS AS WELL AS THE RAPID ACCESS ADDICTIONS CLINIC. JOHN RUEDY CLINIC AND POSITIVE HEALTH SERVICES IN ADDITION TO THE RIBBON OFFICE. PEER SUPPORT INCLUDES ACCOMPANIMENT TO APPOINTMENTS PEER GROUPS AND EVENTS AND HIV PREVENTION CASE MANAGEMNT: CASE MANAGEMENT CASE MANAGERS OFFER HIV PREVENTION SERVICES SUPPORT PEOPLE TO MEET THEIR OWN HIV PREVENTION GOALS INCLUDING BUILDING RELATIONSHIP AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS CONSIDERING PREP CONDOMS AND VIRAL LOADS AS PART OF HIV PREVENTION AND NAVIGATING SEX WORK AND SUBSTANCE USE WHILE REDUCING HIV. COMMUNITY CASE MANAGEMNT: PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV CAN ACCESS CASE MANAGEMENT THAT ADDRESSES HARM REDUCTION HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT SECURITY PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL BENEFITS AND SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE INTERIM FEDERAL HEALTH PROGRAM IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE CLAIMS INCOME TAX AND DISABILITY SUPPORTS. GROUPS & COMMUNITY EVENTS: THE INDIGENOUS COMMITTEE HOSTS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING INCLUDING ARTS AND CRAFTS CLASSES PIPE CEREMONIES EACH EQUINOX AND SOLSTICE AND SHARING OF BANNOCK AT OUR OFFICE. WITH PEER LEADERSHIP WE SUPPORTED A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY EVENTS INCLUDING THE AIDS WALK A COMMUNITY FORUM ON LONG-ACTING HIV MEDICATIONS A HOLIDAY CELEBRATION AND OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. FOOD SECURITY:28 WEEKS PER YEAR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV CAN ACCESS THE FREE GROVERY PROGRAM PROVIDING PRODUCE PROTEIN AND A VARIETY OF PANTRY AND HYGIENE ITEMS. THESE ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CLIENTS TO PICK OUT THEIR OWN ITEMS OR RECEIVING DELIVERIES VIA ONE OF OUR AMAZING PARTNERS. DROP IN: WE OPERATE TO A CONFIDENTIAL DROP-IN PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH THAT PROVIDES COMMUNITY FOOD HEALTH SERVICES AND HARM REDUCTION TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS THREE NIGHTS EACH WEEK IN ADDITION TO A WEEKLY CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

FRIENDS OF MAY IS A NEW TAKE ON PREVIOUS PROGRAMS AT AIDS VANCOUVER THE BUDDY PROGRAM AND CARE TEAMS. THIS PROGRAM PAIRS SENIORS WITH VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE HOUSEHOLD CULTURAL PRACTICAL AND SOCIAL SUPPORT AS THEY AGE AT HOME. WE BEGAN OFFERING OUR MONTHLY BANNOCK PROGRAM AT TWO OF OUR CLINIC LOCATIONS AND WE BEGAN A PILOT PROJECT TO HAVE A PEER NAVIGATOR AT OAK TREE CLINIC. WE WELCOMED UBC DENTAL HYGIENE STUDENTS WHO PROVIDIED WEEKLY HYGIENE APPOINTMENTS THROUGH APPOINTMENTS THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR. LEADERSHIP FROM LATIN@ COMMUNITY MEMBERS STARTED A QUARTERLY STI TESTING & VACCINE CLINIC HOSTED BY VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH AT RIBBON.