ANNOUNCEMENT: Deadline extended by three weeks!

The deadline for the Call for Abstracts for Workshop and Poster Submissions AND for Scholarship Application Submissions is now Friday, September 18, 2009, at 11:59 pm EDT.

We encourage all those who would like to present a workshop or poster at Leading Together 2010 to submit their abstract proposal as well as submit their registration and scholarship application as soon as possible.

We also encourage all those who are more interested in attending Leading Together 2010 as a participant to submit their registration and scholarship application as soon as possible.

Please note: If you are applying for a scholarship, you are still required to complete the Registration Form - please submit both forms together. Scholarship applications are due Friday, September 18, 2009, at 11:59 pm EDT.

For the Call For Abstracts, please download the following PDF file: The Call For Abstracts
ANNOUNCEMENT: On-line Abstract submissions now available!

After reviewing the following information, please proceed to "My Skills Menu" to register, to apply for a scholarship, to submit an abstract proposal and to apply for exhibitor space.





BACKGROUND
The Leading Together 2010 Skills Building Symposium offers skills training and networking opportunities in six key strategies:

1. Awareness of HIV/AIDS – programs and activities
While members of the public are fairly knowledgeable about HIV, they have some misconceptions that affect ongoing support for HIV programs in Canada. Efforts to correct these misconceptions and maintain or increase current high levels of awareness of HIV/AIDS among the general public include the development of public awareness programs and campaigns at local, regional and national levels. Workshops and posters will address public communication activities, development and delivery of awareness programs in specific communities and building capacity at all levels to deliver strategic messages to specific groups.

2. Social factors/inequities driving the epidemic
For many communities – gay men, people who use injection drugs, Aboriginal people, and people from countries where HIV is endemic – HIV is only one of a number of pressures that threaten their health. Poverty, homelessness, stigma, addiction, violence, untreated mental health problems, lack of employment opportunities, powerlessness, lack of choice, lack of legal status (i.e., undocumented refugees) and lack of social support create an environment in which HIV and other illnesses flourish and spread. Workshops and posters will focus on how communities respond to health service needs, programs that address social inequalities and ways of addressing stigma and discrimination.

3. Prevention programs and efforts
Prevention programs should use culture/gender sensitive and age appropriate prevention strategies focused on specific communities. New prevention tools, such as preventative vaccines and microbicides, are directly linked with strengthening our response to HIV/AIDS. Workshops and posters will focus on steps taken to ensure access to prevention in specific populations and emerging prevention technologies.

4. Diagnosis, care, and treatment
As the needs of people with HIV become more complex, services must adapt. Strengthening diagnosis, care, treatment and support is directly linked with stepping up prevention efforts. Workshops and posters will include efforts to improve diagnosis times, policy issues related to care, and psychosocial issues such as disclosure, living with long-term health complications and palliative care concerns.

5. Global leadership
Large parts of the world are being overwhelmed by HIV/AIDS. This disease has the potential to devastate emerging and established economies and destabilize governments. The impact is felt worldwide. Canada has always played an active role in international aid and development. Community responses within Canada often include partnerships, such as twinning programs, which bring communities together to dialogue on needs and responses. Workshops and posters will encourage the sharing of learning and practices related to such partnerships.

6. Front-line capacity to respond
To meet our targets and achieve our goals, Canada must have the people, knowledge, skills, resources and structures to raise awareness; address the social factors driving the epidemic; step up prevention efforts; strengthen diagnosis, care, treatment and support; and provide global leadership. This requires investment in planning, resource management, volunteer recruitment, partnership building, gaining community support and communications. Workshops and posters will focus on how these tools support the front-line capacity to act early – to respond quickly to urgent needs and to stay the course – in order to develop long-term sustainable programs.


PROPOSAL CRITERIA
We are inviting proposals for skills building workshops and posters for this event. Proposals should adhere to the following criteria:

1. Focus on the critical HIV/AIDS issues identified by the six Leading Together: Canada Takes Action on HIV/AIDS (2005-2010) strategies.

2. Address the skills building needs of a broad target audience while speaking to specific HIV/AIDS issues for individuals in various work and volunteer settings and/or communities.

3. The skills and/or knowledge being shared in your workshop or poster must be identified and the strategy to facilitate the transference of skills must be outlined.

4. Workshops should strive to ensure active involvement of workshop participants and be learner-centered.

5. Workshops or posters facilitated by individuals from diverse settings (i.e. a combination of different professional groups and community groups) will be given preference to ensure a multidisciplinary approach to content and delivery.

6. At the intermediate and advanced levels, preference will be given to proposals that incorporate a multidisciplinary approach, integrate theory and research with practical intervention strategies and models of practice, build upon existing knowledge in the field and where possible, introduce leading-edge materials.
WORKSHOP ANOST
ER SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
HOW TO FILL OUT THE PROPOSAL FORM
1. Make sure to fill out the name and contact information for all facilitators. If you are submitting your abstract on-line and if there are more than four facilitators for your workshop or poster, please submit the name(s) and contact information of the additional facilitator(s) along with any documentation you are submitting to support your program’s effectiveness. If you are submitting your abstract proposal with the pdf form or the from the First Announcement, please attach a separate sheet with contact details.

2. Enter the title of your proposed workshop or poster as you would like it to appear in all Leading Together 2010 materials.

3. Indicate whether you are submitting a workshop or poster.

• Workshops are 1 or 1.5 hours long.

• Posters will be displayed on Friday and Saturday of the Symposium.

Facilitators of all accepted proposals will receive a package with specific details and guidelines to assist with the development of their presentation. Please note that only the facilitator identified as the contact person will receive information pertaining to the proposal.

4. The workshop or poster training level must be clearly identified as introductory, intermediate or advanced.

• Introductory workshops or posters should provide basic knowledge that is specific to a given learning track for individuals from different work settings and communities.

• Intermediate workshops or posters should focus on building the capacity of participants who deal in the area that is specific to a given learning track.

• Advanced workshops or posters should engage participants who have worked in the field for several years and have extensive knowledge that is specific to a given learning track.

Any prerequisites necessary to participate must be clearly identified.

5. Identify the learning track to which you are submitting your proposal. Your proposal will be considered by a review panel with specific expertise to this area. Review committees are comprised of representatives of the Leading Together 2010 National Advisory Committee (the overall Symposium organizing body), as well as with other members of the community-based movement.

6. Provide a clear, concise description of the workshop or poster (50-100 words) as you would like it to appear in all Leading Together 2010 materials.

Each workshop or poster will be advertised in the event program. Therefore, to facilitate for adequate and equitable promotion of all workshops and posters, under no circumstances can descriptions exceed 100 words.

7. List what skills and/or knowledge your audience will gain, and how, from your presentation. For workshop proposals only, list the tools you will use to engage and involve your audience.


SELECTION PROCESS
Review committees will consider all proposals and make final selections of all workshops and posters based on all these criteria. There is one review committee for each of the six strategies. The review process is blinded. Applicants may be required to provide a resume or other background information prior to workshop approval. Successful applicants will be contacted by the end of October 2009.


DEADLINE
If you are interested in facilitating a workshop or poster you must submit a proposal by Friday, September 18, 2009, at 11:59 pm EDT.


ANNOUNCEMENT: The on-line Abstract submission forms are now available.

To begin, drag your mouse to the main menu on the left of your screen, and click on “My Skills Menu”.

From this page, simply follow the instructions provided on your screen.
To return to your Skills Menu, drag your mouse back to the main menu on the left of your screen and click on “My Skills Menu”.

If you are also applying for a scholarship, you must also complete the registration form.

If you experience any difficulty, please report your issue to skills2010@cdnaids.ca, or call 1.877.998.9991.

If you are assisting someone in another location who does not have access to the internet, please download the pdf. version of the abstract submission form, send it to them requesting a prompt return. Once the form is returned to you, in an effort to expediate their registration, scholarship application and abstract submission, you can create their on-line profile on their behalf and submit all their required forms, using the information they have provided on their forms. Please keep in mind the deadline for scholarship applications and for abstract submissions is Friday, September 18, 2009, at 11:59 pm EDT.

If you are submitting a proposal by mail please enclose both a hard copy and a CD or USB flash drive (Word or WordPerfect) with your proposal.

Abstract Submission Form – pdf.: HERE

To mail, fax or email forms in, please send them to the following address:

Please note that all abstract submission forms received by mail or fax will be manually entered in to the on-line system, to facilitate the review process by the Abstract Review Panel. The email address indicated on the on-line form will receive an auto-reply message thanking them for their submission, and reminding or advising them of their username and password. Please keep that email on-file for future reference.

Workshop or poster proposals must be received no later than Friday, September 18, 2009, at 11:59 pm EDT. If you require assistance to prepare your proposal, please contact Danielle Hurtubise up until Friday, September 18, 2009.

Please note: Facilitators of accepted workshops and posters will be offered a $50.00 rebate off their registration fee, regardless of which rate you pay, unless you qualify for the special PLWHIV/AIDS rate. The discount for facilitators applies to registration only and cannot be applied to cover the cost of the opening ceremony and dinner or the closing lunch. No honorariums are available. All facilitators will be given preference for PARTIAL scholarships to assist with travel or accommodation.

If you would like to receive hardcopies of our promotional materials, the First Announcement and poster, please also contact the Leading Together 2010 Team.