INVITATION TO APPLY

Partnership opportunity – Training and education related to safer and more inclusive sexual health, harm reduction and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections services

BACKGROUND

The prevention, treatment and management of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) — such as HIV, hepatitis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and human papillomavirus — continue to represent important public health issues in Canada. However, stigma and discrimination within health and social service settings often complicate public health efforts by creating barriers to people who try to access and use sexual health, harm reduction and STBBI-related services. This stigma often unevenly affects certain groups of people, such as people living with HIV or Hepatitis C, Black and Indigenous people, trans and gender non-binary people, women, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+ people, people who use drugs, people with larger bodies, people experiencing poverty, and people working in sex work.

While health and social service organizations can sometimes perpetuate this stigma, they can also play an important role in reducing it. Reducing stigma and discrimination requires more than one approach—stigma and discrimination arise from individuals' attitudes, values, beliefs and practices in addition to health and social service organizations' policies, procedures, culture and environment.

CPHA AND C4S STIGMA REDUCTION RESOURCES

As part of a national project funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) and the Centre for Sexuality (C4S) have led the development of a suite of resources meant to equip health and social service providers and organizations across Canada with the knowledge and skills needed to address stigma related to sexuality, substance use and STBBIs. This includes a number of knowledge translation tools as well as five professional development workshops available in a turnkey format (including facilitation manuals, participant workbooks and presentation slide decks) that organizations can use to deliver training in their own communities. Descriptions of each of the professional development workshops are available here: https://www.cpha.ca/workshops-reducing-stbbi-related-stigma.

During resource development, CPHA studied peer-reviewed and grey literature to identify types of stigma and its causes in our society. In addition, CPHA held key informant interviews and focus groups with health and social service professionals and individuals with lived and living experience from across the country to identify promising practices for reducing stigma within health and social service settings. All workshop activities are grounded in adult learning principles and many activities have been adapted from the C4S Training Centre professional development workshops. The workshops were piloted and evaluated across different settings and target audiences to ensure relevance to wide range of health and social service settings across Canada.

In addition to the five workshops, there are also several knowledge translation tools that have been developed to complement the workshop learnings. One key resource to support addressing structural stigma in health and social service organizations is the Organizational Assessment Tool for STBBIs and Stigma. The tool was originally released in 2017 and is currently being updated for re-release in 2023.

All of the knowledge translation and professional development workshops are freely available on the Training and education hub to address sexual health and harm reduction stigma (the Hub) in a turnkey format to help organizations facilitate training in their own communities. The Hub provides content to support organizations in preparing for workshop delivery, covering topics such as adult learning principles, trauma-informed facilitation, logistics for planning in-person or online training, adapting workshop content and evaluating the impacts of training. To learn more about the Hub, please visit: https://www.cpha.ca/workshops-reducing-stbbi-related-stigma.

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY

CPHA and C4S are seeking to collaborate with up to three organizations or agencies interested in delivering and evaluating stigma reduction interventions over a four-year period (fall 2023 to March 2027).

Specifically, we are looking for organizations interested in using the training resources described above to deliver workshops focused on stigma reduction to professionals in their own region. In addition, partner organizations will be expected to use the Organizational Assessment Tool for STBBIs and Stigma to identify priorities for stigma reduction within their own organization as well as support 1-2 other local organizations complete a similar assessment process.

Adaptations to the CPHA and C4S stigma reduction resources may be required to meet the needs of different professional groups, service settings, populations served and local contexts. Workshops incorporate a “red, yellow, green” framework to help guide adaptations. Support for making adaptations—including adapting content for delivery online or in person or to better reflect population-specific and region-specific needs— will be available from CPHA and C4S to all organizations selected through this application process.

Meaningful engagement of people with lived and living experience of stigma related to sexuality, substance use, STBBIs and intersecting identities is a requirement for each partner organization and must inform the selection and adaptation of training materials as well as identifying priorities for organizational change initiatives. How this engagement is structured may look different at different partner organizations (for example, based on existing modes of community engagement) and will be discussed as part of the partner selection process.

This partnership opportunity will employ a participatory intervention research framework to help assess the features of effective stigma reduction interventions, with a particular emphasis on training and education efforts, and to explore promising practices related to the scaling of stigma reduction interventions. As such, partner organizations will be invited to share evaluation findings with CPHA and C4S from the training workshops delivered in their region, and to participate in periodic surveys, interviews and/or focus groups to share how CPHA and C4S could better support the stigma reduction interventions being implemented in their communities.

Financial support will be provided to selected applicants to cover costs associated with participation in this project (averaging $12 500 per year over a four-year period beginning in fall 2023 and ending March 2027).

COLLABORATION REQUIREMENTS

Meaningful engagement of staff, service users, and/or community members with lived and living experience of stigma related to sexuality, substance use and STBBIs in this work. Details of this will be discussed and elaborated through the selection process.

Participate in a multi-day online training alongside other collaborating organizations prior to any implementation of stigma reduction workshops. The training sessions will be held in fall 2023—exact dates will be determined based on availability of key members from each partner organization selected. The training will focus on adult education, community engagement and trauma- and violence- informed facilitation to build capacity of selected organizations in delivering workshops and trainings in their region. The virtual training will outline and support the navigation of CPHA and C4S learning and training resources and provide tools for adaptation of workshop content.

Participate in a Community of Practice involving occasional meetings with CPHA, C4S and the other organizations similarly implementing the stigma reduction training and tools as a means of sharing lessons learned and promising practices.

Maintain the fidelity of the workshop curriculum. Organizations that are currently delivering training on topics related to sexuality, substance use, STBBI and stigma are welcome to apply; however, the current collaboration opportunity is specific to delivery and evaluation of the CPHA/C4S workshop resources. The selected organizations must be able to maintain the fidelity of the curriculum, which can include working with CPHA and C4S to adapt as needed for the local context (e.g., cultural or community-specific adaptations).

Deliver a minimum of two workshops to health and social service professionals during each year of their partnership in this project. Workshops may be delivered to staff within or outside the applicant’s organization, and may be delivered in-person or online using a platform such as Zoom.

Undergo an internal organizational assessment process using the Organizational Assessment Tool for STBBIs and Stigma with support from CPHA and C4S. In later years of the project, selected applicants will serve as a support and resource for 1-2 other local organizations to undergo their own organizational assessment.

Meet with CPHA and C4S staff during a 1-2 day in-person visit to their organization to discuss progress and challenges, and to share lessons learned (site visits are expected to occur throughout fall 2024). Learnings from site visits will be shared with the other partner organizations in order to advance collective understanding of promising practices in stigma reduction and intervention scaling.

Demonstrate willingness and capacity to participate in intervention research activities (e.g. sharing pre- and post-workshop survey responses with CPHA and C4S to support analysis of promising practices related to stigma reduction training and community engagement; participating in periodic surveys, interviews and/or focus groups to share how CPHA and C4S could better support scaling efforts in their region), as well as knowledge mobilization efforts (e.g. sharing lessons learned with other partner organizations).

Commitment to participating over the entire project term (ending March 2027). Unforeseen circumstances that change organizations’ abilities and capacity to participate are of course possible and we will deal with such situations as they arise.

BENEFITS FOR COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS

This unique opportunity will provide ongoing training and support to collaborating organizations to successfully implement STBBI stigma reduction education and training in their own communities. In addition, selected applicants will be provided with an opportunity to engage in participatory intervention research activities that will contribute to advancing collective understanding of promising practices in stigma reduction. The financial costs to participate in the process will be subsidized by CPHA through a stipend averaging $12 500 per year over a four-year period. The following are some of the key potential benefits for partner organizations/agencies:

Opportunity to participate in a training process that will strengthen facilitation skills and enhance knowledge and skills to deliver evidence-based and engaging professional development to health and social service providers on issues related to sexual health, harm reduction and stigma reduction

Support and mentorship throughout project duration to implement the Organizational Assessment Tool for STBBIs and Stigma to identify priority areas for action within one’s own organization, and to lead other organizations in addressing structural stigma

Evaluation support throughout the implementation of the stigma reduction interventions (including access to evaluation tools to measure participant outcomes as well as tools and support for organizational policy development)

Opportunity to participate and contribute to intervention research that will help inform practice and learning in the field of sexual health, harm reduction, STBBI and stigma reduction. Partner organizations will be invited to participate in knowledge mobilization efforts throughout project duration, which will include opportunities for co-authorship with CPHA, C4S and other partner organizations

Potential to attract and retain funding through community, municipal, and provincial funders who are familiar with CPHA, C4S and their demonstrated impact. Where possible, CPHA and C4S will support partner organizations’ efforts to secure funding through other sources to continue to deliver and evaluate stigma reduction training and education and ensure sustainability beyond the project term

Financial support of $10 000 - 15 000 per year (averaging $12 500 per year). Funds may cover, for example, staff time dedicated to training, preparation, facilitation and evaluation; payment of community members/people with lived and living experience at a rate comparable to staff members doing similar work; printing workshop materials and supporting documents/tools; travel costs, etc.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

Eligible agencies include non-profit organizations, organizations and institutions supported by provincial and territorial governments (e.g. regional health authorities, public health units), and other community-based agencies.

We will be selecting 3 successful applicants to collaborate with us from late summer 2023 to March 2027.
We are accepting applications in English and French. The multi-day online training provided to collaborating organizations will be facilitated in English, though organizations will be invited to participate in either English or French. Further, collaborating organizations will be able to access the training workshop resources, tools, and evaluation materials in English or French, and will be able to deliver and evaluate the stigma reduction interventions in English or French.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to explore the Training and education hub to address sexual health and harm reduction stigma (the Hub) before applying to familiarize themselves with the CPHA and C4S stigma reduction resources and ensure that this partnership is a good fit for their organization. Note that to gain access to the Hub, you must first complete a short, online module, and then request access through CPHA’s webpage. You can find more information about accessing the Hub here: https://www.cpha.ca/workshops-reducing-stbbi-related-stigma.

Only complete applications received on or before May 26, 2023 will be considered.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to: trauma-and violence-informed approaches, health equity, sexual and reproductive rights, 2SLGBTQ+ affirming practice, cultural safety, health equity and harm reduction.

Applicants should have a demonstrated capacity to engage with service users/community members throughout the project; as such, we are looking for applicants who have a demonstrated understanding of promising practices in collaborative community engagement.

Applying organizations and/or select staff should have demonstrated capacity for providing training to adult learners on topics related to sexuality, substance use, STBBIs and stigma.

A high level of buy-in and participation of organizational leadership (e.g., Executive Director, Director, Manager) is required to participate as a partner site/organization. We expect that leadership will be involved in the process of preparing and applying for this opportunity, as well as meeting with CPHA and C4S during a video interview should your organization be selected.

Please note that we will be looking to implement in settings across Canada, so location may be considered when it comes to application eligibility if we have multiple applications from the same province/territory or city.

We are also hoping to extend the benefits of this opportunity as widely as possible and may prioritize working with organizations that are positioned to reach a broader audience of health and social service professionals in their region rather than providing training to their own staff exclusively.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants will be considered based on the above criteria. Please include the following information in your application submission:

1. Completed application form (found below)

2. Letter(s) of support from your organization’s leadership (template provided – see Appendix A)

3. A copy of the CV of 1-3 staff members who would be responsible for coordinating and facilitating the training workshops

If you have any questions about this partnership opportunity, we encourage you to contact STBBI@cpha.ca before submitting your application.

Applications can be submitted by emailing the completed application form to STBBI@cpha.ca. Please note that email attachments cannot be larger than 10Mb total. Applications are due no later than May 26, 2023.

We will be contacting and interviewing applicants beginning in June 2023. Please note that we will require your organization’s leadership as well as at least one key staff member who would participate in the coordination and delivery of the training workshops to be present for an interview regarding this opportunity.

APPLICATION FORM

Organization name	Organization name
Organization website	Organization website
Primary contact person	Primary contact person
Contact person email and telephone	Email Phone number
Location	City, Province/Territory

We are looking to partner with organizations that are similarly committed to our project values, including trauma- and violence-informed approaches, sexual and reproductive rights, 2SLGBTQ+ affirming practices, cultural safety, harm reduction, health equity and intersectionality. Please select 3-4 values from those just listed and describe how your organization has demonstrated its commitment to each (e.g., through your organization’s vision/mission statement, or through implemented programs and/or policies).

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Please explain how your organization has committed to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action and speak to your organization’s reconciliation journey (e.g. what steps have you taken already, how are you continuing this work, and do you envision this opportunity as supporting this process in any way?).

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Describe how this partnership opportunity aligns with your organizational vision, mission and strategic plan.

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What benefits to your organization do you anticipate will come from collaborating with CPHA and C4S on this project?

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Meaningful engagement of people with lived and living experience is a key tenet of this project. Please describe how your organizations currently engages service users and people with lived and living experience of stigma related to sexuality, substance use and STBBIs (including priority populations). How you could envision meaningfully collaborating with community throughout the duration of this project?

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Does your organization currently provide training and education on issues related to sexuality, substance use, STBBIs and/or stigma?

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If yes, please describe the nature of this work (e.g., how often are you providing training and education, who is the target audience, what is the focus of the training and education provided by your organization, how are training and education efforts evaluated).

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Has your organization previously used CPHA’s and C4S’s turnkey workshop resources to deliver training?

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If yes, please describe:

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Do you anticipate that the turnkey workshop resources will need to be adapted for use in your community?

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If yes, please describe:

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Have you already identified 1-2 staff persons at your organization as the lead representative(s) for this project?

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If yes, please tell us about their experience and capacity related to the provision of training to adult learners on topics related to sexuality, substance use, STBBIs and/or stigma. Note that their CV(s) should be included as part of your application.

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One of the central components of this partnership opportunity is using CPHA’s Organizational Assessment Tool for STBBIs and Stigma to identify priority areas for action at the organizational level (e.g., physical spaces, policies, communications, evaluation). Can you share any experience your organization has related to organizational change efforts (e.g., stigma reduction, 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion, anti-racism, accessibility, Truth and Reconciliation, etc.)?

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We are looking for organizations that can commit to this project for the entire duration (late summer 2023-March 2027). Please describe your organization’s ability to commit over the course of this collaboration and if you anticipate any challenges to participating throughout the full project term.

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We are hoping to prioritize applicants that are interested in sustaining stigma reduction efforts beyond project duration. How do anticipate sustaining lessons learned and progress made after the end of the partnership?

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If your organization is selected, will you commit to the following:

Select unsure if you need more information or have any concerns about meeting one of the deliverables.

Designate 1-2 representatives to participate in this collaboration opportunity (at least one representative should have experience and capacity related to the provision of training to adult learners on topics related to sexuality, substance use, STBBIs and/or stigma; please attach their CV(s) to your application)	Choose an item.
Participate in periodic meetings with CPHA and C4S to discuss progress as well as opportunities and challenges as they arise	Choose an item.
Participate in a multi-day online training with other collaborating organizations prior to delivery of the stigma reduction interventions; the training sessions will be held in during fall 2023—exact dates will be determined based on availability of key members from each partner organization selected	Choose an item.
Meaningfully engage service users and/or community members with lived and living experience of stigma related to sexuality, substance use and STBBIs throughout the duration of the project	Choose an item.
Maintain fidelity of the professional development workshops focused on stigma reduction; while some adaptations may be required to meet the learning needs of your community, these adaptations should be done in consultation with CPHA and C4S and align with the red, green and yellow framework	Choose an item.
Participate in an online Community of Practice with CPHA and C4S staff, as well as other collaborating organizations to share challenges, lessons learned and promising practices	Choose an item.
Deliver a minimum of two workshops to health and social service professionals each year over the four-year term of the project (late summer 2023 – March 2027)	Choose an item.
Conduct an internal organizational assessment process using the updated Organizational Assessment Tool for STBBIs and Stigma with support from CPHA and C4S. In later years of the project, selected applicants will support 1-2 other organizations in completing their own organizational assessment	Choose an item.
Support evaluation activities, including coordination of data collection with training and organizational assessment tool participants, as well as participation in surveys and interviews with intervention research staff to assess CPHA and C4S support model	Choose an item.
Support CPHA and C4S knowledge mobilization efforts by sharing knowledge translation tools through your respective networks and channels	Choose an item.

If you selected no or unsure for any of the above expectations, please share any concerns or anticipated challenges.

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Any other information you’d like to share with us?

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