What this program is about

The ACAS Support Program provides confidential practical and emotional support services in English, Chinese, Tagalog and Vietnamese to Asians living with HIV/AIDS, their partners, families, and friends.

Support Program Services include counselling, referrals, case management assistance with accessing and coordinating social services, bereavement services, home visits, buddy support, Asian-language interpreters, Asian-language resource library, and information brochures on treatments, nutrition, and family support. Issues with which we have been successful in providing help range from housing to immigration.

Additional programs include a social support group for Asians living with HIV/AIDS and their partners which meets regularly for information sharing and peer support. Our program also offers free in-home shiatsu and massage therapy to Asian PHA's through volunteer massage therapists.

For our Buddy Support volunteers, we provide a series of training workshops, ongoing support and supervision, as well as peer support group meetings. The ACAS Support Program is proud to have established the Dr. Kirby Hsu's PHA Activity Fund as well as a PHA Emergency Fund to provide financial assistance for clients.

Services

The ACAS Support Program provides confidential, practical and emotional support to East and South East Asians living with HIV/AIDS, their partner, families, and friends.

Support Program Services are divided into three groups:

• HIV/AIDS Emotional Support
• HIV/AIDS Practical Support
• PHA Community Development

The ACAS Support Program provides confidential, practical and emotional support to East and South East Asians in living with HIV/AIDS, their partner, families, and friends.

Our services are confidential and available in English, Chinese, Filipino, or Vietnamese. If what you need is not listed here, call or come and see us anyway. We'll try to connect you with other services and organizations that can help. To access any of the Support Program Services, please contact the Support Program Coordinator/Counsellor Patrick Truong at ACAS.

HIV/AIDS Emotional Support

Counselling Program
Sometimes it helps to have someone else to talk to about your needs, health, relationships, deaths you've experienced, and the changes happening in your life. ACAS provides confidential short-term or long-term counselling and information in meeting your needs as an Asian infected or affected by HIV/AIDS (including partners, families, and friends). Counselling sessions can be at home, at a coffee shop, or at the ACAS office. You may also phone ACAS anonymously for service. If you or someone you know is living with HIV/AIDS and needs someone to talk to who is confidential, non-judgmental, and culturally competent, contact the Support Program Coordinator/Counsellor

Buddy Volunteer Program
As an Asian living with HIV/AIDS, you may experience isolation from your family and friends. You may need someone to talk to in your own language about issues related to your needs, health, relationships, deaths you've experienced, and changes happening in your life - someone who will be supportive and who won't judge you. If you feel isolated, lonely, and need someone other than family or friends to talk to, ACAS provides confidential buddy volunteers who are fluent in English, Vietnamese, Chinese, or Filipino who can visit with you.

Peer Support Program
For HIV+ Asians, speaking in your own language to someone who is also living with HIV/AIDS and who may have experienced similar thoughts, feelings, and situations, can be very supportive. ACAS has trained volunteers living with HIV/AIDS who are fluent in English, Vietnamese, Chinese, or Filipino, to help you.

Client Social Program
ACAS has a confidential Client Social Group for Asians living with HIV/AIDS and their partners. This is an opportunity to meet other Asians living with HIV/AIDS in an informal setting. Some past events have included, potluck dinners, movie matinees, and yoga afternoons.

Annual PHA Retreat
ACAS holds an annual retreat for Asians living with HIV/AIDS, their partners, and family members where you can learn, relax and meet new people. It is a weekend that is organized and facilitated by HIV+ Asians.

HIV/AIDS Practical Support

Referrals, Information, Case Management, & Advocacy
ACAS can help Asians living with HIV/AIDS with accessing and coordination services like: Ontario Disability Support Program, Insurance Benefits Clinic, Legal Clinic, help finding a place to live, bereavement services, Income Tax Assistance. We also have an Asian-language resource library you may access during regular office hours.

Practical Assistance Program
Sometimes, when people living with HIV/AIDS feel overwhelmed by the daily tasks of managing their health, they have little energy left for day-to-day chores and need help with cooking, groceries, picking up medication, etc. ACAS has trained volunteers who are fluent in English, Vietnamese, Chinese, or Filipino to assist you with these tasks.

Language Interpreter Program
Accessing services can be challenging, especially if you are living with HIV/AIDS and your first language is not English. A clear understanding of care and treatments is important in maintaining health. We have trained volunteers fluent in English, Vietnamese, Chinese, or Filipino who can help you access services in your first language.

Financial Assistance Program
ACAS has two small financial grants for Asians living with HIV/AIDS (subject to availability of funds): ACAS PHA Emergency Financial Assistance grants for emergency client needs and Dr. Kirby Hsu's PHA Activity Fund grants for activities contributing towards wellness including holistic therapies.

PHA Community Development

PHA Public Speaker Program
"PHA" means Person living with HIV/AIDS. ACAS often receives requests from community groups, conferences, and the media for Asian PHAs to share their unique experiences to raise awareness of important issues within our communities. We can provide you with a PHA Public Speaker who is fluent in English, Vietnamese, Chinese or Filipino.

Internet Training Program
ACAS provides internet training by Asian PHAs for Asian PHAs. We also have internet facilities for use by our clients - just call and book time at our office.

Health & Wellness Program
A holistic view of health and wellness includes attention to the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional aspects of our being. We have trained volunteers fluent in English, Vietnamese, Chinese, or Filipino who can provide you with holistic therapies like shiatsu, massage therapy, reiki, or a workout buddy/sports companion, etc.

Support Volunteer Program
While ACAS's Support Volunteer Program provides assistance to Asians living with HIV/AIDS, it also provides opportunities for HIV+ Asians to volunteer, learn new skills, and meet new people. So if you're Asian living with HIV/AIDS and feel you have the time, energy, and interest, please consider volunteering for the Support Program. Check out the different kinds of things ACAS needs done at the Support Program Volunteer Program page.

Our services are confidential and available in English, Chinese, Filipino, or Vietnamese. If what you need is not listed here, call or come and see us anyway. We'll try to connect you with other services and organizations that can help. To access any of the Support Program Services, please contact the Support Program Coordinator/Counsellor Patrick Truong at ACAS.