Monthly Archives: May 2020

Here is the latest ACAS report to update you on what's been going on. If you'd like to be a part of any future programming please don't hesitate getting in touch! Email info@acas.org or any of the program coordinators!  

Hello everyone, The PROTECH project (Pandemic Rapid-response Optimization to Enhance Community-Resilience and Health) is currently looking for volunteers to help our Chinese Canadian communities. PROTECH is a rapid response community-based action project supported by the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF). As the first racialized groups hit by the pandemic, the Chinese Canadians and diasporic communities have experienced increased stigma and racism, further intensifying the vast mental health, economic and social impact shared by the broader Canadian communities. Led by Prof. Josephine P. Wong and Prof. Mandana Vahabi (Ryerson University); Dr. Alan Li (Regent Park Community Health Centre); and Dr. Kenneth P. Fung (University Health Network), PROTECH uses an integrative approach to engage and mobilize real-time responses to reduce the negative psychosocial impacts of COVID-19 on Chinese Canadian communities and address the mental health needs of affected service providers in the Greater Toronto Area. PROTECH builds on lessons learned from the SARS pandemic and focuses on the following key activities: Providing an online resource hub to provide accurate information on COVID-19 and practical coping strategies, with live chat support; Providing an online training to promote mental health resilience for directly affected communities and health service providers; Engage in community mobilization to address stigma and racism, and to respond to unmet and emerging needs. With the recent launch of the PROTECH website (www.projectprotech.ca), we need your help getting the word out to your friends, family, and social media connections to ensure that people who need mental health support can access it in timely manner. Furthermore, we need your help to recruit MORE VOLUNTEERS. As the project builds up, there is an increased need for additional volunteers, including live-chat support agents. This is not only a great way to give back and support an important cause, but it can be something you put [...]

As ACAS is working remotely to provide you services at this time, we wanted to give you updates on what is happening at our agency. If you'd like to be a part of any future programming please don't hesitate getting in touch! Email info@acas.org or any of the program coordinators! At the last movie night we had with AQUA on May 2nd, 2020 we watched the release of the movie The Half of It. ACAS and AQUA chose this new movie that put a queer Asian to the forefront. We watched together with around 10 participants as we reacted and laughed in the group text chat! Stay tuned for the next movie!  

Due to the current health situation, the CAHR 2020 (Canadian Association for HIV Research) conference was held virtually on May 1 and 2, 2020. This years theme was Hope, Victories and Perseverance beyond 2020. ACAS proudly presented a research poster this year and we proudly share it here. A Sip of C.A.R.E was a successful and valued project that helped engage people living with HIV, that had positive outcomes in those that participated.  This project was funded and supported by ViiV Healthcare and Crimson Teas. We would also like to acknowledge Dr. Josephine Wong and Bloom Siriwattakanon for helping with the program. SSP8.13 A Sip of C.A.R.E. for Marginalized East and Southeast Asian Communities in Toronto   Other CAHR 2020 posters can be found at https://www.cahr-acrv.ca/virtual-conferences/posters/

We wanted to share Toronto Public Health's e-poster on Safer Sex during COVID 19, so you can have safer and healthier sex while staying at home! https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/976c-Safer_sex_during_COVID-19.pdf Also featured is an infographic version from our City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam! www.kristynwongtam.ca/covid19