Annual Report to the Membership
June 25, 2015
2
A Message
from the Chair
Mark Smith -Chair
PARN Board of Directors
PARN Board of Directors
2014-2015
Chair
Mark Smith
Vice Chair
Mark Phillips
Members at Large:
Alexa Ferguson
Megan Mattos
Alison Rogers
Bunny Smith
Members during 2014/15
Sarah Bonnar
John Scott
Laura Storey
PARN’s important work in Peterborough and the 4 Counties is
guided by a volunteer Board of Directors who are deeply invested
in and dedicated to PARN's mission and goals. It has been my
pleasure and privilege to serve as Chair of PARN’s Board in 201415 and I have appreciated the opportunity to work closely with
my fellow Board members, PARN service users, office staff and
other members of the community.
The past year has presented some unique challenges and
opportunities, particularly around staffing at the agency as we
experienced a higher amount of turnover than usual in key roles
over the past year. A great deal of time and effort went into
searching for and selecting the Prevention Education Coordinator,
HIV Support Services Program Coordinator and new Finance
Administrator. We are thrilled with the results of our hiring
processes and it is great to see the organization fully staffed again
and moving forward with renewed energy and fresh ideas.
Government funding has remained stable over the last year, while
fundraising remains an important element to help PARN thrive
and grow. We were thrilled to receive increased funding from the
United Way Peterborough & District this year which has enabled
us to invest in and expand our youth programming. Board
member Bunny Smith has led our Fundraising Committee’s efforts
over the past year to explore new fundraising options that will
allow PARN to maintain and expand services. We are grateful to
the generous individuals, volunteers, Board members and
businesses alike whose commitment makes PARN’s work possible.
Our Board began the year with myself as chair, Mark Phillips as
vice-chair, Laura Storey, Sarah Bonnar, Megan Mattos, Alison
Rodgers, Alexa Ferguson, and John Scott. The board’s membership
shifted slightly throughout the year due to other commitments
and career opportunities. While we were excited for what the
future held for John, Laura and Sarah, we definitely missed their
lively participation and leadership.
3
Annual Report
2014-2015
A Message
from the Chair
Mark Smith -Chair
PARN Board of Directors
In September of 2014, the Board appointed and welcomed Bunny
Smith. Thanks to the work of Alison Rodgers and Alexa Ferguson
on the Board Development Committee, the Board will continue on
in good shape into 2015‐16.
While there will be some new faces at the table in the near future,
we will be sorry to see Alexa Ferguson depart the Board at the end
of her term this June. Alexa brought an amazing energy and
commitment to her work and, working closely with Alison Rogers,
did excellent work on the Board Development Committee,
including organizing a retreat in January where board and staff
participated in workshops with Douglas Stewart of the Ontario
Organizational Development Program (OODP) and Cathy White.
We were also treated to presentations from PARN staff throughout
the year regarding new initiatives and projects that assisted us in
understanding day-to-day practices at PARN. Kudos to Alexa and
Alison.
We have just concluded a clean audit and PARN’s healthy financial
picture has this year been guided by Megan Mattos and Mark
Phillips (Co-Chairs of the Finance Committee) and Katie Watt,
PARN Finance Administrator.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I wish to thank the staff at
PARN whose work is truly a calling. We can’t say Thank You
enough for all of the things that they do throughout the year. It is
such an honour to be involved with an organization where the staff
has the dedication, drive and compassion to provide such
exceptional service. I would also like to thank the Board members
for their dedication of time, knowledge, skills and abilities that they
bring to the table all of the time.
Thank You,
Mark Smith
Chair, PARN Board of Directors
“To part is the lot of all
mankind. The world is a
scene of constant leavetaking, and the hands that
grasp in cordial greeting
today, are doomed ere long
to unite for the last time,
when the quivering lips
pronounce the word 'Farewell”
― R.M. Ballantyne
Thank you to John Scott,
Laura Storey, and Sarah
Bonnar and Alexa Ferguson
for your commitment to
PARN as part of our Board of
Directors. Our communities
are better for having had your
leadership and guidance.
Thank you for all that you
have done.
- the Staff @PARN
4
Executive Director’s
Message
Kim Dolan
About PARN
PARN-Your Community AIDS
Resource Network is a community
based agency providing support and
health promotion for people living
with and at-risk for HIV. PARN
provides education for people at
risk for HIV and awareness of AIDS
issues to the broader community.
All services are confidential.
Contact Us
159 King Street, Suite 302
Peterborough ON
K9J 2R8
Phone: 705-749-9110
Toll-free: 1-800-361-2895
Fax: 705-749-6310
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.parn.ca
Twitter: @PARN4Counties
PARN is an active part of Ontario’s evidence-informed response to
HIV/AIDS which includes community-based and scientific
research, prevention initiatives, testing, treatment and care. The
drivers of HIV are a complex web of institutionalized and
internalized homophobia, racism, stigma and discrimination, fear
and lack of knowledge, poverty and experiences of trauma and
loss. In 2014/15 we continued to join with allied organizations and
individuals to address the factors that create risk for HIV as well as
hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted and blood borne
infections (STBBIs).
Throughout the year PARN continued to implement
recommendations to reinvigorate the Support Program and better
meet the needs of people living with HIV (PHAs) who told us that
while PARN support programs and services were valued, they
were not PHA driven, didn’t provide many opportunities for
PHAs to receive support from their peers and didn’t provide
for meaningful opportunities for PHA engagement,
empowerment or professional development—PHAs were
craving this and also wanted the core support programming
protected.
In the summer, we evaluated the Food Cupboard program as it had
grown beyond our capacity to support it. Resoundingly we heard
from respondents that they found PARN’s food cupboard to be a
place of safety and inclusion. We struggled with the decision to
close the general food cupboard and continued to participate in
other food security initiatives in the community.
We stretched into the counties and began a new partnership with
Point in Time in Haliburton to begin conversations about creating a
community of welcome for LGBTQ youth, adults and families.
Clearly, the pilot engagement activities struck a common chord - 8
youth and over 60 adults gathered one cold February evening at
Baked & Battered and more events followed.
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Annual Report
2014-2015
Executive Director’s
Message
Kim Dolan
Change is bittersweet and often asks that we let something go in
order to bring in something new. In August we said good bye to
Chris Ciceri who had held the position of Support Worker for a
number of years. In September we welcomed Brittany Cameron
into the newly created PHA Engagement Worker position. In
February we welcomed Lance Brown into the reconceived HIV
Support Services and Programs Coordinator position.
Peter Williams left the role of Prevention Education Coordinator in
April and returned for a few months as Support Coordinator before
moving to a new role of Community Development Coordinator at
Peterborough Police Services. Angel Parks joined us for a few
months before moving on to the regional Hepatitis C Team. After a
lengthy search we were so pleased to welcome Chris Jardin into the
position in January.
We also welcomed Katie Watt into the role of Finance
Administrator in January and are so grateful to Tina Staplin who
lead the hiring team in the search for her replacement.
HIV transcends geographic boundaries and asks that we tap into
our shared humanity to support one another when we fall. The
cities, towns, villages and farmlands that make up out catchment
area have their unique histories and heritages, but we find common
ground everywhere we go, from Haliburton to the shores of Lake
Ontario. Together, we will continue to work with likely and unlikely
partners to fill the cracks that allow too many to stumble.
Thank you,
Kim Dolan
PARN Executive Director
The PARN Team
Kim Dolan
Executive Director
Support Services & Programs
Lance Brown
HIV Support Services
& Programs Coordinator
Brittany Cameron
PHA Engagement Worker
Prevention, Education
& Community Development
Wayne Ducker
HIV/IDU Outreach Worker
anya gwynne
Rainbow Youth Program Facilitator
Chris Jardin
Prevention Education Coordinator
Ariel O’Neill
Women and HIV
Community Animator
Program Support
Dylan DeMarsh
Communications and Resource
Coordinator
Peg Town
Office Administrator
Katie Watt
Finance Administrator
6
Financial Report
Megan Mattos
PARN Finance Committee
As always, we are hugely appreciative of the fundraising support we
receive year after year from our members and our community. As
part of our thanks, we do our best through our Annual Reports and
Audited Financial statements to provide you with some insight into
what PARN was able to accomplish with our fundraised dollars each
year. This year is no different!
The PARN Board of Directors would
like to take this opportunity to
welcome and congratulate PARN’s
new Finance Administrator, Katie
Watt, for the incredible work she has
done thus far in her mere 6 months
with PARN. Katie has worked
tirelessly to translate PARN’s
financial reports into the most
concise, transparent, and easily
understood manner possible. We are
extremely excited to have her
onboard with PARN. Welcome Katie!
In 2014-15, PARN was the grateful recipient of a special one-time
donation in the form of a $75,000 bequest from a dear friend of
PARN, Doc Savage. This extremely generous donation came with a
specific directive to supplement PARN’s Financial Assistance
Program..
Doc Savage’s donation provided PARN an opportunity to make
needed changes to our traditional fundraising initiatives, including
the launch of the first annual Live.Out.Loud” PARN walk. PARN did
experience a slight decrease in fundraised revenues in 2014-15,
with gross fundraised revenue of $37,394, down just under $1000
from the previous year.
Every year our fundraised dollars allow PARN to continue its
fundamental services and programming, including our youth
programs and our people living with HIV (PHA) engagement work.
Traditionally a large part of our fundraised revenues are directed
exclusively to PARN’s Financial Assistance Program, which is
provides modest financial assistance to people living with HIV to
cover costs not provided for by existing social services and
programs. PARN provided $21,655 to people living with HIV
through the Financial Assistance Program in 2014-15.
With the directive of Doc Savage’s generous bequest, we are looking
forward to the opportunity to redirect some of our fundraised
revenue into the development of our other programming areas in
the years to come.
7
Annual Report
2014-2015
Financial Report
Megan Mattos
PARN Finance Committee
Perhaps the most notable achievement in the 2014-2015 budget
was that, through extremely prudent financial management, this
year’s budget closed with a net positive, which allowed PARN to reinvest much needed funds into its program reserve. We encourage
you to take a moment to review our annual audited financial
statements where you will find a thorough review of PARN’s
financials for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.
PARN is very fortunate to receive ongoing support from all levels of
government—municipal, provincial, and federal—as well as from
organizations working closer to home such as the United Way of
Peterborough and District. On top of these essential supports,
PARN uses fundraised dollars to sustain some of our current
programming. This past year has seen some major changes to
PARN’s fundraising initiatives which we hope will reap many
benefits for the organization over the long term, and we hope that
we will continue to see everyone’s friendly and loving smiles for all
of our events to come!
PARN is ever attentive to the guidelines set out by our funders, as
well as to the changing needs of our clients and our community.
PARN’s staff and board members alike are continually putting their
heads together to find new, fun, and informative fundraising
initiatives that will not only help raise awareness about PARN’s
work in the community, but also to enable PARN to keep doing this
amazing work to help make our community a healthy community
for us all to enjoy! PARN has seen a very successful financial year,
and we hope to continue this trend in the year to come.
2014 Fundraising Snapshot
A Taste For Life
April 23, 2014
5 Communities
16 Restaurants
34 Hosts
1250 Diners
$23,000 raised
Live.Out.Loud Walk
September 14, 2014
80 Walkers
56 Donors
34 Prize Donations
12 Volunteers
$7344 Raised
Red Ribbon Campaign
December 1, 2014
2500 Ribbons
5 Locations
$2300 Raised
8
WHAI at PARN
Ariel O’Neill
Women and HIV/AIDS
Initiative (WHAI)
Community Animator
WHAI is an answer to
community need for a flexible
response to HIV/AIDS among
women in Ontario that takes
into account the structural and
societal factors that make
women vulnerable to HIV. This
initiative, located in 16 AIDS
Service Organizations (ASOs)
throughout the province, is
funded by the AIDS Bureau of
the Ministry of Health and
Long-term Care. To learn more,
please visit www.whai.ca.
WHAI Statistics at a glance:
31 Education events to 1175
people
38 Coalition, network,
information sharing meetings
with community partners
6 Outreach events reaching
140 people
136 Facebook posts and
Tweets
The education events facilitated this year focused on topics
including: Stigma and Discrimination, STIs/Safer Sex, Womenspecific issues, Living with HIV, Diversity/Anti-oppression/
Cultural competence, Harm Reduction, PARN agency
presentations.
Mental Health and Violence Against Women Sectors in Focus

Catalyzed sexual health education for dual diagnosis adult
day program

Provided trauma-informed workshop for regional concurrent
disorder capacity building team

Participated in 4 regional Violence Against Women coalitions

Featured two key initiatives on my radio show centering on
gender-based violence, specifically sexual violence and street
harassment
It’s all about partnerships and building spaces for change!
Pictured: Ariel (left) and
Kristen Mommertz of
Hollaback Peterborough
chatting at International
Women’s Day event March 6th
organized by Kawartha World
Issues Centre and Kawartha
Sexual Assault Centre.
9
Annual Report
2014-2015
2014/2015 has been a productive and inspiring year for the
Rainbow Youth program with no sign of slowing down. In total
Rainbow Youth presented 65 workshops/trainings over the last
year to just over 1250 people in the 4 counties. This year we
provided training to our ambassador group, The QueeRAdicals, to
assist in providing these workshops, building their capacity and
confidence to do this work in their community and increasing our
impact with commitment to youth engagement.
We continued to foster our partnership with Fleming College,
delivering 25 Positive Space workshops to 582 students and faculty.
We also worked with the Four County Services Collaborative to do
training for service providers related to best practice care for
LGBTQ clients in a variety of services. Workshops occurred in
Minden and Peterborough, with the goal of improving the
competency and knowledge base of 75 service providers on the
topics of sexual orientation and gender identity. We did 13
additional trainings for 253 service providers, including the
KPRDSB, Telecare, Employment Planning Counselling Services and
health services in the four counties. Our involvement in schools,
besides Fleming College, was a little less this year, with 5 workshops
at Trent to 78 students and 6 workshops in schools to 214 students
in grades 9-12.
The biggest change this year has been our commitment to youth
engagement through The QueeRAdical Ambassador group. The
thrust of our education has embedded the concept of Harm
Reduction, making the links to prevention of HIV and STBBIs and a
wholeness of health approach. With a cumulative total of over 240
hours of volunteer training, facilitation and outreach activities this
group had gained capacity and confidence to bring forward their
own initiatives. They are actively involved in developing trainings
and facilitating conversations they feel youth and adults need in
their community.
Rainbow Youth at PARN
anya gwynne
Rainbow Youth
Program Facilitator
Rainbow Youth: By the Numbers
65 workshops on homophobia, sexual
orientation, gender, trans* competency,
relationships, safer sex and self-care
42 Drop IN Sessions with 12 facilitated by
youth
40 new youth attended Drop IN with
226 in attendance over the year
240 hours of volunteer time by youth
Rainbow Youth Drop IN
The Rainbow Youth Drop moved
from twice a month to weekly and
our hypothesis that this would
improve attendance and accessibility
was proven positive. The Drop IN
welcomed 40 new youth in the last
year with an attendance of 226. We
took a more focused approach with
topics or activities listed in advance
that youth chose and introduced a
peer to peer facilitation model with
The QueeRAdicals facilitating 12
Drop in sessions out of the 42 weeks
of programming.
10
HIV Support Program
Lance Brown
HIV Support Services
& Programs Coordinator
The Numbers
24% of PARN support clients selfidentify as female, 74.5% as male
and 1.5% as trans.
23% of PARN support clients are
under the age of 40.
More than half (57%) of people living
with HIV who access support at PARN
are between the ages of 40 and 59.
People over the age of 55 comprise
14% of PARN’s HIV support clients.
Over the past year PARN Support Services has been focusing on
improving our programs and services. We are guided by our
Strategic Plan, the goals of the organization, recommendations
from the support services review, program evaluations and our
commitment to GIPA and MEPA.
Moving in new directions means lots of changes and making
tough decisions. We eliminated the support worker position and
created two new positions: Support Services Programs
Coordinator and PHA Engagement Worker.
We welcomed Brittany Cameron as PHA Engagement Worker in
September. Brittany has a focus on the greater involvement and
more meaningful involvement of people with HIV in our
community.
Lance Brown joined us in March as HIV Support Services and
Programs Coordinator with a focus on providing core support
services and new programs.
Brittany and Lance are working closely with people living with
HIV to develop new programs and services.
2015/16 Trends in PARN’s HIV Support Program:



A number of people living with HIV have expressed
experiencing difficulties with memory and focusing. PARN
is working with Dr. Sean Rourke from the OHTN to find
solutions.
People living with HIV are increasingly returning to school
or work with a focus on the healing professions.
People living with HIV have demonstrated a desire to take
on leadership roles within the agency as well as volunteer
roles.
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Annual Report
2014-2015
HIV Support Program
Brittany Cameron
PHA Engagement
Worker
GIPA and MEPA at PARN
In 2014-15, PARN continued to work closely with people living with
HIV in Peterborough and the Four Counties in order to provide
guidance and leadership, deliver services, stage events, develop new
leaders in the community, and so much more.
As part of our commitment to the Ontario Accord and principles of
the greater involvement of people living with HIV (GIPA) and the
more meaningful engagement of people living with HIV (MEPA,)
PARN created a permanent position for a PHA Engagement
Coordinator in summer of 2014, and after a thorough hiring process
guided by people living with HIV, Brittany Cameron was hired as
PARN’s first ever PHA Engagement Worker.
People living with HIV were heavily involved in the development
and delivery of PARN programming, including the planning and
development of PARN’s PHA Leadership Trainings. People living
with HIV were involved in the Central East Opening Doors
Conference, the Balsam Lake Annual Picnic, and the Annual Holiday
Lunch.
People living with HIV continue to be a major part of the day-to-day
activities at PARN, working reception shifts, helping stock the food
cupboard, and taking on leadership roles with PARNs Long-Term
Survivors Group.
We are thankful for the leadership provided by people living with
HIV in guiding our work and are committed as an organization to
working on their behalf.
Positive Living Room
In January 2015, PARN’s HIV
Support Services Program
partnered with the Positive Care
Clinic to launch the Positive Living
Room.
This weekly drop-in is held every
Thursday from 10:00 am to 11:30
am for people living with HIV,
providing opportunities to meet
new people, connect with old
friends, and share experiences with
peers.
The Positive Care Clinic is open
during Positive Living Room hours
so that people can access HIV and
HEP C testing and treatment.
12
HIV Support Program
Lance Brown
HIV Support Services
& Programs Coordinator
About the Ontario Accord
The Ontario Accord was
embraced by the PARN Board
of Directors on November 14,
2012, to ensure
organizational commitment to
transforming organizational
culture by embodying and
operationalizing the
principles of GIPA and MEPA
in all areas of PARN’s work
from governance to program
planning, service delivery to
education, client support to
fundraising events.
This Accord was created by
representatives of Ontario
organizations at a Living and
Serving 3 consultation
meeting in July 2011 .
The Ontario Accord
A Statement of Solidarity with GIPA/MIPA
We, people living with HIV/AIDS and allies in the community:
 Commit to the greater involvement and meaningful engagement
of people living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA/MIPA); GIPA/MIPA puts
PHAs at the centre and is grounded in human rights and the
dignity of the full human being
 Aim to transform all who live with, work in, and are affected by,
HIV/AIDS in Ontario
 Commit to personal and social transformation
 Value community expertise in embracing the challenge for the
betterment of society
 Value inclusion over exclusion, a quest for integrity at all times
and the embodiment of self-determination
 Promote the evolution of thought, action and collaboration
among us and with our allies
Because GIPA/MIPA is about human struggles and aspirations,
ethics, empowerment and accountability are its foundation.
We acknowledge that Greater involvement of people with HIV/
AIDS (GIPA) is never achieved once and for all; it is a goal and
commitment that must be continually renewed. GIPA is a
practice, not a project, and is similar to all other accountabilities
of healthy HIV organizing and service delivery. Our practices in
AIDS service organizations (ASOs) must be continually reevaluated in light of the changing realities of HIV/AIDS and of
those living with it.
13
Annual Report
2014-2015
Support Services Program Review
The Support Services Recommendations Implementation Working
Group (SSRIWG) was established to implement the changes that
were recommended by the Ontario Organizational Development
Program in January 2014 based on extensive consultations with
people living with HIV and other key PARN stakeholders.
The Working Group met regularly in 2014 and implemented the
following changes in response to the recommendations:




Created the PHA Engagement Worker staff position at PARN
and led a hiring process to fill the position.
Worked with PARN staff to increase roles and opportunities
for people living with HIV in peer support and HIV related
program development.
Re-committed to administering the Financial Administration
Program according to the existing policy, and clarified the
amount ($150) that can be accessed by people living in
prison.
Expanded hours for PARN programs to accommodate people
who can’t go to the office during regular 9-5 hours.
While there are still a few remaining recommendations to be
finalized, it has been decided that these outstanding pieces would
be better addressed by the PHA Advisory Committee that guides
PARN’s Support Services Programing.
PARN is grateful for the time and effort made by the members of
the SSRIWG in 2014 and looks to build on their work for years to
come.
HIV Support Program
Brittany Cameron
PHA Engagement
Worker
Support Service Recommendations
1) Review involvement of PHAs, ensure
the support program becomes more
PHA-driven, add PHA engagement to
existing programming, and keep some
kind of 1-on-1 support, practical &
financial assistance, support groups,
social events/ activities, prison outreach
and space for the Positive Care Clinic.
2) Review the confidentiality policy &
practice, ensure ethical implementation,
& regain consent.
3) Transition food & harm reduction to
peer-administered programs with staff
support.
4) Revise the policies & procedures for
the Financial Assistance Program - keep
the basic intent, streamline approvals &
include a PHA adjudication process.
5) Ensure a presence beyond
Peterborough to serve the whole region;
choose a new name that reflects the
region & eliminates the acronym; set up
PHA-run satellites in select regions of
the catchment area.
6) Designate prison outreach and
Thursday morning drop-ins & new
programs designed with peer
engagement as the joint responsibility of
support and prevention teams.
7) Change hours to ensure at least two
blocks of hours outside of the regular 9
to 5, either two evenings per week, or
one evening a week and Saturday hours.
14
Prevention Education
Chris Jardin
Prevention Education
Coordinator
By the Numbers
The education team provided 117
workshops to 1945 people.
There were 47 instances where peers
helped facilitate educational
opportunities or community
development.
We partnered with various local
agencies 99 times, and fostered 12
new relationships.
We distributed nearly 400,000 new
needles and syringes in Peterborough
and the Four Counties.
Clients accessed our services 9,313
times and we engaged 144 new
clients.
In Peterborough alone, we distributed
approximately 25,000 condoms.
This has been a year of change and transition for PARN’s
Prevention and Education Program. After serving for nearly five
years as PARN’s Prevention Education Coordinator, Peter Williams
left the agency in April 2014 to embark on a new adventure.
Following Peter’s departure, a number of people took on a
leadership role to ensure the success of PARN’s Prevention and
Education programming. Angel Parks filled the position on a shortterm basis from May to September, and all members of the PARN
team stepped up to fill gaps until Chris Jardin was hired as PARN’s
new Prevention Education Coordinator in January, 2015.
In the midst of all this transition, PARN continued to achieve
notable successes in 2014/15 with its Prevention and Education
Programming (please see sidebar for details).
In November, we launched our “What is Your
Status” campaign in time for AIDS Awareness
Week and World AIDS Day in December. This
campaign involved the production and
distribution of 5,000 brochures containing
HIV testing information specific to
Peterborough and the Four Counties, as well
as online messaging to support the campaign
through PARN’s website and social media
platforms. We are thankful to PARN
placement students Eric, Madeleine, Lara,
Hamza and Jenn for their work designing and creating the content
for the “What is Your Status” brochures.
With a new Coordinator in place, Prevention Education at PARN is
prepared for the upcoming year and have developed an action plan
for the program as it moves it into its next chapter.
15
Annual Report
2014-2015
Harm Reduction
Works @ PARN
Wayne Ducker
HIV/Injection Drug
Use Outreach Worker
Harm Reduction Works @ PARN has experienced another successful year
providing strategies and equipment to reduce the harms of intravenous and
inhaled substance use within the communities we serve. This year we
offered face-to-face support, equipment and services to over 800 unique
individuals, almost 350 of whom were new clients.
Our needle exchange program distributed almost 400,000 sterile needles to
injection drug users within the Four Counties, which is over 50,000 more
than we gave out the previous year. As for our safer inhalation program, we
distributed close to 11,000 glass stems to people who smoke crack cocaine,
which is a 25% growth in distribution from the previous year.
Building on the success of our work in Peterborough (see sidebar), we have
also collaborated with our partners at the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge
District Health Unit and the Oshawa Community Health Centre towards
creating an Overdose Prevention and Naloxone Distribution Program that
will operate in the counties of Haliburton, Northumberland and City of
Kawartha Lakes with an anticipated start date in the 2015/2016 fiscal year.
Aside from overdose prevention, PARN is also working with partners in
these regions to help create an HKPR Region Wide Drug Strategy that will
inform the Four Pillar work we do in these areas.
Through a mixture of fixed site locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Port
Hope and Cobourg, as well as the outreach work of dedicated staff, students
and peer outreach workers who engage substance users in their homes, on
the street, and drop-in centres Harm Reduction Works @ PARN continues
to meet people where they are at by eliminating barriers so they can access
the harm reduction equipment and services necessary for the safer use of
drugs within our communities.
Harm Reduction Works @ PARN would like to recognize the funding and
support from the AIDS Bureau, the Peterborough City-County and
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge Health Units, as well as the in-kind
support of our dedicated partners and volunteers that allows us to provide
these vital services to the community.
Overdose Prevention Training
In collaboration with the Peterborough
Drug Strategy and Peterborough CityCounty Health Unit, Harm Reduction
Works @ PARN continued to provide
overdose prevention training to high-risk
opiate users in an attempt to reduce the
number of overdose deaths within the
County and City of Peterborough. With
the help of peer volunteers, we delivered
monthly overdose prevention trainings at
the Lighthouse Community Centre
teaching people how to prevent,
recognize, and properly intervene in any
overdose situation. After the training is
completed, participants with experience
consuming opioid drugs are prescribed a
Naloxone Kit by a public health nurse that
can be used to temporarily reverse an
opioid overdose allowing more time for
Emergency Medical Services to arrive.
The peer trainers have been vital in our
attempt to increase the 911 call rate for
overdose emergencies by dispelling the
fear amongst substance users that police
attend the scene in order to bust people,
and emphasizing that their primary
objective is to save lives.
16
Volunteers
@ PARN
Seventy volunteers dedicated 354
combined hours to PARN
fundraising activities.
Fifty new volunteers joined PARN
in 2014.
Seven volunteer receptionists
dedicated a combined 864 hours at
PARN’s front desk .
12 volunteers gave 364 hours to
serve on PARN’s Board of Directors
and various Advisory Committees.
11 volunteers worked as Peers to
perform outreach work for PARN .
48 PARN volunteers received
training from PARN or were
connected with other agencies for
training by PARN in 2014. Much of
this training focused on providing
life-saving Naloxone training for
PARN peers and volunteers
familiar with the injection drug use
community.
Thank You PARN Volunteers!
PARN was started by a group of passionate and dedicated
volunteers who saw the need for a community-based response
to the AIDS epidemic and acted to fill this need.
More than 25 years later, volunteers continue to take on
leadership roles at PARN and are integrated into all aspects of
our work and office environment.
In 2014/15, 92 volunteers dedicated 2643.5 hours to PARN,
doing everything from daily office reception, attending monthly
meetings of the board and its committees, joining ongoing harm
reduction kit making bees, hosting at Drag Bingo, giving time to
events such as A Taste For Life and Live Out Loud, working as
Ambassadors for the Rainbow Youth Program, and much more.
In addition, 12 students from Fleming College and Trent
University gave more than 1900 hours to PARN in 2013.
PARN has placed greater emphasis on providing training to
volunteers to build capacity. Coinciding with National Volunteer
Week, PARN held a training in April 2014 that brought 9 new
volunteers to the agency, followed by another session in
November. This year, PARN also sent 33 volunteers to
participate in trainings held by other agencies.
Our Reception Volunteers have taken on a greater role in
2014/15. In addition to working their regular reception shifts,
PARN reception volunteers have been organizing and facilitating
occasional Advisory Committee meetings - an opportunity to
socialize, discuss their work, problem solve and develop
strategies for improvement. Such meetings are important for
building capacity through peer support and self-determination.
17
Annual Report
2014-2015
PARN strives to provide important messaging about HIV, other
STBBIs, harm reduction, stigma, and so much more to people living
in the communities we serve.
We primarily share our key messages and important news through
our electronic newsletter, social media platforms, advertising and
working with local media. In 2014/15, PARN messages were
featured in more than 30 local news stories, and our Twitter and
Facebook posts reached thousands of people living in Peterborough
and the Four Counties.
Sharing Our
Message
In the News
In 2014/15, PARN was featured 15
times in the Peterborough
Examiner, 8 times in Peterborough
This Week, and 5 times on CHEX.
We also received extensive
coverage in Haliburton on the work
of our Rainbow Youth Program in
the region.
PARN E-News
We distributed 11 editions of our
monthly E-News in 2015/16,
reaching more than 6600 contacts.
Trending On Twitter
We added more than 250 followers
to our Twitter feed in 2014/15. Our
followers and other tweeters
shared our messages more than
150 times over the past year.
Making friends on Facebook
We launched a new official PARN
Facebook page in 2014 and are
thrilled that more than 250 people
have liked our new page. Over the
past year, our 75 Facebook posts
were shared 421 times, reaching
more than 7,000 contacts.
18
Community
Connections
Our Funders
PARN is grateful for the
funding received from:
AIDS Bureau, Ministry of
Long Term Health and Care
Public Health Agency of
Canada through the
Community Action Program
United Way of Peterborough
and District
City of Peterborough
Program Delivery Partners
Over the past two decades PARN has been able to broaden its
scope in order to effectively reduce HIV transmission in the
most at-risk communities through initiatives such as our
Harm Reduction program, engagement with LGBTQ youth,
sexual health education, and much more. We owe a debt of
gratitude to the partners who help us deliver these services.
Thank you to all of the organizations who have worked with
us to build safer and stronger communities in Peterborough
and the Four Counties:
Fleming College
FourCAST
Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge Health Unit
Hepatitis C Team, Oshawa Community Health Centre
Kawartha Food Share
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board
Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre
Lakeridge Health Positive Care Clinic
OATC. Lindsay
Peterborough Drug Strategy
Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service
Peterborough City County Health Unit
Port Hope Community Health Centre
Rainbow Service Organization
19
Annual Report
2014-2015
Community Partners
A Place Called Home, Community Care Lakefield, Canadian
Mental Health Association, George Street United Church,
Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Kawartha
World Issues Centre, Lighthouse Community Centre, Lions
Club of Peterborough, Market Hall Performing Arts Centre,
Mysterious Entity Theatre, Northumberland Assertive
Community Treatment Team, Northumberland Child
Development Centre, Northumberland Community and
Social Services, Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre, The
Parish, PFLAG, Peterborough Youth Services, Point In Time,
ReFrame and ReelKids Film Festivals, St. Andrew’s United
Church, Trent Central Student Association, Trent African
and Caibbean Students Union, VON 360 Clinic.
Our Partners in the HIV Community
AIDS Committee of Durham Region
CATIE
HIV/AIDS Regional Services (Kingston)
Ontario HIV Treatment Network
Ontario AIDS Network
Prisoner’s HIV/AIDS Support Action Network (PASSAN)
Sponsors and Donors
BE Catering, The Body Shop, CHEX Television, Catalina and
the Barbeside, Cora’s, Forbidden Pleasures, M.O.M. Mind
Over Matter, NAKED Chocolate, Natas Cafe, The Olde Stone
Brewing Company, Peterborough This Week, Pinkshoe
Blueshoe, The Silver Bean Cafe, The Spill, Sugar Me Right,
TD Bank, Things From Mom’s Basement, VIA Rail Canada,
Community
Connections
Thank you to all of the restaurantswho
participated in A Taste For Life 2014!
Please support them when you can.
Peterborough & County
Black Honey
Brio Gusto
Electric City Gardens
Elements Restaurant
Hot Belly Mama's
Parkhill on Hunter
Rare Grill House
Sam's Place
Shish Kabob Hut
St. Veronus Cafe Tap & Grill
The Thirsty Loon Pub (Lakefield)
City of Kawartha Lakes
Kawartha Coffee Co. (Bobcaygeon)
Pane Vino (Lindsay)
Northumberland
Black Beans (Port Hope)
Capers Restaurant (Campbellford)
Carlyle Inn & Bistro (Port Hope)