How We Work

WHAI seeks to be informed by and amplify the experiences of those who face structural discrimination and exclusion, impacting HIV risk and the health outcomes of those living with HIV. As such, our work focuses on engagement with cis and Trans women, 2-Spirit and Non-Binary people who identify as living with HIV, African, Caribbean, Black, Indigenous, or newcomers, who use drugs or substances, have experiences with violence and / or have been / are incarcerated. Within these communities, our work includes those who are pregnant or parenting, living with different abilities, and span from young adults to seniors.

WHAI’s work across Ontario is rooted in the principles of community development and collective impact. Community development emphasizes enhanced community capacity, the collective ability of a community to control the factors affecting their health, rather than measurable changes in health related risk factors, as the desired outcome.

Collective Impact is based on five conditions: Common Agenda, Shared Measurement, Mutually Reinforcing Activities, Continuous Communication, and Backbone Support. We cannot do our WHAI work without acknowledging and weaving these realities into all elements of our work.

Working in these frameworks is important because of the Intersectional & Underlying Experiences that impact WHAI’s Priority Populations. Identified through community consultations, these were:

• Institutional Violence
• Gender Based Violence / Intimate Partner Violence
• Poverty & Structural Inequality
• Gender Identity-Based Discrimination against Trans, 2-Spirit and Non-Binary people
• Housing Insecurity including Homelessness, Precarious Housing and Unsafe Housing
• Anti-Black, Brown, Asian & Indigenous Racism
• Stigma & Discrimination

Women talked about how these factors underpinned their everyday lives to create real and overwhelming barriers to health, wellness and care. They identified these barriers having a significant impact on their direct or indirect risks related to HIV, their capacity to prevent HIV, and their health outcomes. Feedback from consultations with community organizations and networks were well-aligned with how women identified their systemic barriers to health. They further emphasized stigma and discrimination, housing insecurities, violence, poverty and financial insecurity.

Along with a mapping of underlying and systemic barriers, women also described ways to enhance HIV care and wellness. Their strategies for care were grouped into key themes which make up the Priority Areas for Collaboration, guiding where and how WHAI can concentrate its work and align with Ontario’s HIV response.

Informed by the principles outlined above, the 6 Priority Areas for Collaboration are the key themes shared across the communities where we work and will inform how we work to reach our WHAI goals in the coming years. These are:

• HIV Education, Prevention, Care & Support
• Community Connection
• Wholistic Care
• Safety
• Women-Centred Harm Reduction
• Economic Autonomy