PAN is working on a new project in partnership with Dr. Mark Gilbert of the BCCDC. This project is funded by UBC’s Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) Fund.
Why is this project needed?
Increasing testing for sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI) is a necessary response to rising STBBI rates in British Columbia and new testing options are readily becoming available that allow testing to be done outside of clinic settings.
In 2020, PAN released an HIV testing needs assessment which recommended community service providers such as peers (people with lived and living experience) or other staff in community-based organizations (CBOs) be supported to take a greater role in testing to reduce demands on clinical services. Community service providers are often the first line of contact with the health system for many people needing STBBI testing who are challenged accessing healthcare traditional services (e.g., for fear of judgement or stigma such as sexual and gender minority people or people with lived experience of substance use). Some aspects of the testing process require healthcare provider involvement (e.g., ordering appropriate treatment). However, the roles that could be played by community health workers as part of the STBBI testing process are not defined, nor are the system resources and infrastructure required to support these roles.
In this project, PAN will lead a community consultation to answer these questions that will include facilitated events and development of a guiding framework to be shared with provincial STBBI testing practice leads and decision-makers, alongside CBOs.
What is the timeline of the project?
(Stage 1) May to July 2025:
Forming of a Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
Building Priorities and Questions to bring to Community Consultation
(Stage 2) September to December 2025:
Community Events and Consultation from a diverse representation of community-health service providers and PWLLEs
(Stage 3) January to April 2026:
Develop Guidance for Community-Based STBBI Testing in BC
Consensus Process – Bringing Framework back to CAC, participating organizations, and PAN members and allies for final evaluation.
(Stage 4) April 2026:
Knowledge Mobilization
The hope of this project:
The finalized Guidance will hopefully lead to future work with longer-term benefits for communities and CBOs in BC, including leading to new community-based STBBI testing initiatives or the development of new training opportunities for peers and providers such as micro-credit courses on counseling about STBBI testing options.
We also hope the engagement itself will support learning and increased understanding for community service providers around testing options, processes and procedures within BC, and resources available to support their roles in community-based STBBI testing.
Sharing emerging findings through Dr. Gilbert with colleagues at the BC Centre for Disease Control will also directly inform policy or programming decisions (e.g., community-focused knowledge materials for new STBBI testing programs currently being implemented).
Opportunities for Involvement:
(Stage 1): Community Advisory Committee (CAC) NOW OPEN to CBOs and peers with relevant experience – email [email protected] if interested
Do you want to shape the questions we will ask community?
(Stage 2): Community Events and Consultation
Do you want to answer those questions?
(Stage 3): Drafting Guidance
Do you want to review the synthesized input from community and a drafted Guidance?