HIV/AIDS Regional Services (HARS) Support Services
- Recently diagnosed?
- Looking for info on safer sex?
- Having trouble finding housing?
- Dealing with a friend/family member becoming positive?
- Just released from prison?
- Need clean works?
We’re here to help.
Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 to 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
HARS offers the following Support Services:
Prison Support Coordinator – Diane Smith-Merrill
Diane delivers a range of support services to federal inmates living with HIV/AIDS at Joyceville, Millhaven, Bath, Pittsburgh, Collins Bay, Frontenac, K.P., R.T.C. In addition, she offers support services to the Quinte and Brockville Provincial Prisons. Diane can be reached at 613-545-3698 or email diane@kingston.net
The following confidential services are offered through the Prison Support program:
- Counselling
- Education
- Advocacy
- Medical referrals and referrals to other community agencies
- Group work
- Networking with other community agencies
Diane also assists with:
- Pre-release planning
- Housing applications
- Disability pensions
- General support for those infected, affected or at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and HEP C who are incarcerated
City Support Coordinator, City of Kingston – Allison Cope
Allison works out of our office at 844 A Princess Street.
Phone 613-545-3698 or Email acope@kingston.net for an appointment if you are HIV+.
Coordinators provide the following confidential services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS and also to those affected by HIV/AIDS:
- Individual counselling (on issues of testing, sexuality, safer sex, living with HIV/AIDS, disclosure and harm reduction)
- Advocacy
- Health Promotion
- Information on treatments
- Referrals to agencies/services
- Practical services
- Support groups
Regional Support Coordinator – Joanne Sands
This position provides support to individuals with HIV/AIDS in Hastings, Lennox & Addington, Frontenac (except for the City of Kingston), Lanark and Leeds & Grenville Counties.
Monthly office days in Sharbot Lake at North Frontenac Community Services. Call Joanne for details.
The coordinator will meet you in your home or at a mutually agreeable location. If you live in one of the counties mentioned above, and need immediate assistance, Phone Joanne at 1-800-565-2209 or email her at jsands@kingston.net
In addition to the basic confidential services :
- Individual counselling (on issues of testing, sexuality, safer sex, living with HIV/AIDS, disclosure and harm reduction)
- Advocacy
- Health Promotion
- Information on treatments
- Referrals to agencies/services
- Practical services
- Support groups
- The Regional Coordinator can also arrange for transportation to medical appointments outside your town or city.
Needle Exchange
A confidential, non-judgmental service that provides syringes, needle tips, bio-hazard bins and alcohol swabs free of charge.
We encourage people to drop off their used works.
Open during HARS regular office hours .
The needle exchange is a satellite program of the Street Health Centre in Kingston. Located at 235 Wellington St. 613-549-1440 E-mail: .info@streethealth.kchc.ca or on the web at: www.kchc.ca
HARS offers the following Education Services:
Education Coordinators: Grace Pavlatos-Jones & Amanda Girling
HARS has over 20 years experience with effective community education. Presentations are planned to fit the learning and needs of each group of participants.
Education & training sessions are free to those in our catchment area. Sessions can include PHAs willing to share insights based on their own personal experiences.
Formats include presentations, workshops, interactive discussions and displays.Are available to present to interested groups and agencies about:
- HIV/AIDS Basics
- Hep C
- Healthy Relationships
- Sexual Health
- Prison Issues
- Harm Reduction
- Stigma & Discrimination
- Human Rights
- Homophobia
- Global & Development Issues
- And any other specific topics such as HIV & Pregnancy, HIV & Street Drugs, etc.
To discuss your needs and arrange a presentation, contact Grace Pavlatos-Jones ( grace@kingston.net ) or Amanda Girling (amanda@kingston.net) at 1-800-565-2209 or 613-545-3698.
Women’s HIV/AIDS Community Development Coordinator – Deb Kinder
The women’s coordinator works with any and all relevant groups and organizations to build local community capacity to respond to women’s HIV/AIDS prevention needs, and to improve the quality of life for women living with or affected by HIV/AIDS throughout our catchment area, including:
- acting as a liaison between HARS and local women’s organizations and providing consultation, education and presentations to women’s groups
- participating in local planning initiatives relating to women’s issues
- provide resources and tools to promote HIV/AIDS prevention
For more information please contact Deb Kinder at 613-545-3698 or dkinder@kingston.net
Gay Men’s Sexual Health Coordinator – Gilles Charette
The GMSH Coordinator develops, coordinates, evaluates and implements HIV/AIDS Education and Poz Prevention targeted to diverse communities of Gay, Bi-sexual and MSM (Men who have sex with men) within the catchment of HARS.
A large part of this role is community development, working with all members of LGBTQ community as well as community partners to promote gay men’s sexual health with a strong understanding of the social justice and equality issues involved.
- Identify emerging issues in HIV prevention/sexual health education and apply them to work done in the Kingston region.
- Develop strategic partnerships with agencies, groups, clubs and businesses in order to promote the health of gay, bi, and other men who have sex with men.
- Design and deliver workshops, training, education opportunities and networking events relevant to gay men’s sexual health.
- Work to enhance the quality of services utilized gay men in the region by addressing issues of
- homophobia and heterosexism in the community.
For more information please contact Gilles Charette at 613-545-3698 or gilles@kingston.net
Education : Special Projects and Discussion Groups
The TELL Art Project – “To Each Life Lived”
To Each Life Lived is a local HIV/AIDS art project that seeks to remember those who have died, honour those who are living with this disease, and recognize the contributions of other members of our community who are connected to this struggle.
We are looking for messages about HIV/AIDS in the form of personal memorials to people who have died, reflections from those currently living with HIV, and statements of solidarity/support from individuals and groups in our community. The materials created will be displayed in the HARS office, and used in remembrance ceremonies and Awareness Campaigns.
If you decide to participate, we will provide you with a small canvas (8″ x 10″) upon which you can write, paint, draw, collage, or sew your message. We can send you the canvas and more detailed instructions, or you can come to the HARS office where we will provide canvases and other artistic supplies. You do not need any particular ability or skill in order to contribute – you only need to have something to say.
Contact Allison for more information – acope@kingston.net or 613-545-3698
Lucy’s Fund
This is a new HARS assistance program to benefit some of our four footed freinds. The fund came into existence with a donation by Ruth Sheridan after the death of her beloved dog Lucy. The hope is that we will be able to provide help to PHA’s with some of the costs of having a pet. If you would like to donate to this project please mark your donation to The Lucy Fund. We are also collecting pet supplies that can be given to pets in need.
For a copy of our brochure, click on the following link: Lucy Fund
For further information, contact Allison @ 613-545-3698 or 1-800-565-2209 or E-mail to acope@kingston.net
Hands On Art
This is a community art project that involves collecting the hand imprints of people who are HIV+ to use as part of our anti-discrimination and AIDS awareness education program. These imprints will be taken to displays & presentations in the community, as well as being displayed in the HARS office. We believe that these hand imprints can be part of a very powerful, interactive educational experience.
A photo-album of this project can be found on FACEBOOK.
Contact Allison if you are HIV+ and interested in participating in this project by making a hand imprint.
Opening Doors
The conference dates for 2013 are May 1-3
Please keep checking for the 2013 registration form!
This is an annual conference for front-line workers, people living with HIV/AIDS, caregivers, volunteers, families, partners and friends. Is designed to provide opportunities for education, support and networking. The main conference is preceded by a pre-conference designed for those infected or personally affected by HIV/AIDS. It is usually held in April and is hosted at The Glen House Resort on the 1000 Islands Parkway, 9km east of Gananoque ( http://www.glenhouseresort.com/).
Registration and room allocation is handled by HARS through John MacTavish. You can contact him at 613-545-3698 or 1-800-565-2209 or E-mail him at hars@kingston.net.
AIDS Vigil
Every year HARS organizes a Vigil to commemorate those we have lost to AIDS and to honor the struggles and courage of those living with HIV.
This year’s vigil will be held May 17, 2012 from 5:00 to 6:00pm at 844A Princess.
St. This event is part of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial. Please see http://www.candelightmemorial.org/ for details.
Taste For Life
Taste For Life will be happening on April 25th, 2012. Please check the HARS website for updates on participating Restaurants. For more information you can also check this link: A Taste For Life
The Red Ribbon Campaign
This campaign is held close to World AIDS Day on December 1st. You can purchase an AIDS commemorative ribbon, with a donation. Locations and times will be published in November 2009.
Sex Worker Action Group SWAG
The Sex Worker Action Group (SWAG) is a sex positive group run by sex workers, women with lived experience, allies, and agency members who strive to improve the lives of sex workers in Kingston and the surrounding area. For more information you can email Deb Kinder at dkinder@kingston.net or request to join our Facebook group.
