Shift Program

Reminder that the Safeworks mobile van service can provide information, testing, immunizations and free safer sex supplies - call the van at 403-850-3755 and they will come to you - no hassle! By the way, check out our new blog articles at shiftcalgary.blogspot.com regarding Canadian Criminal Code on prostitution.

Hi Mod, Thanks again for your post. I do understand why you are asking questions and are concerned. I have met with a few women who post online at different websites who have explained to me about the history of individuals and agencies posting on these sites for illegitimate reasons. I am hoping that someone I?ve met with posts on CERB and can message you or post that we are a legitimate organization with no hidden agendas. I can understand the frustration around the name AIDS Calgary but it was the agency that was given the funding to run the program and we are trying our best to work with the challenges that this brings up. Shift is not an acronym and it is named Shift because with the program we wanted to see: - a shift in the quality of life for all people involved in the sex trade - a shift in perceptions about the sex trade- recognizing that sex work is work - a shift in working conditions - a shift in the language used by the community and media when talking about sex work The program used to be known as Stepping Out and was run out of the YWCA. The funding was unsustainable and they required the mandate to be broadened. The mission of the program is now: ?Empowering sex trade workers to improve their quality of life through harm reduction and rights based programming?. Our program now caters to men, women, and trans-gendered/sexual individuals and those who do and do not want to exit. I want to make it clear that our program is not exit focused, we are not posting in hopes to make people exit. We will assist in exiting if that is an individually identified goal. I hope that I?ve answered all of your questions. Roseline

Hi Everyone, Thank you for your posts and questions about our program. The Shift program was given to AIDS Calgary in July 2007. AIDS Calgary was awarded the program because of our history and success of using harm reduction and human rights based approaches to programs. AIDS Calgary recognized that sex work was work and that abstinence and exit based programs did not work or fit for all people. We recognize the challenges and stigma that is attached to the word AIDS and how this can be a problem for our program. We try to combat this by offering people anonymity and do not collect any information unless someone chooses to share it. We also offer opportunities to meet away from our office. Although AIDS Calgary houses the program we are actually located in a building called the Calgary Cares Centre and it the name AIDS Calgary is not attached to it. We are also continuously advocating and educating about the stigma around HIV, STI’s and sex trade workers. We are continuing to educate people with the statistics around STI’s and know how low the incidence rates are and how high the rates of people being tested are in the sex industry. As for our desire to connect with indoor workers this is to ensure that people who want to be connected with our program have the opportunity to be. We have a number of indoor workers involved in massage and escort work, who access us for counseling, support and advocacy information. We wanted to make sure we were getting information from others who may want to be involved in a peer program and to see if the needs are unique or if there was a common advocacy issue people would like assistance with. We are aware that there are a number of differences between indoor and outdoor sex workers and are interested in knowing if people indoor require any services that aren’t currently being offered in this city. I hope this answers your questions and encourage you to contact me should you have any further questions or concerns. Thanks, Roseline

Hey Everyone, My name is Roseline and I am the coordinator of a program called Shift. I have posted a few times but they have been few and far between as we are still getting the hang of these online forums. Our program is embarking on the process of developing a peer component. What we know from listening to people involved in all aspects of the sex trade is that peer programs work, this may include support for people wanting to exit, but also for those who do not. We have seen peer groups consist of indoor workers that create advocacy initiatives, support groups or magazines (just to name a few ideas). The Shift program is available to assist individuals who are involved in indoor and outdoor sex work and we really want to ensure that we get information, suggestions and involvement from indoor workers in this process. With that said if you have any ideas for a peer program, or want to be involved in any way I suggest you contact me. I would love to meet with people individually, as a group, or just have conversation over email with anyone who would like to have input. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me, either through this forum or at [email protected], or 403-237-8171. I look forward to hearing from you, Roseline

My name is Roseline and I am the coordinator of the Shift program in Calgary. Currently our program produces a monthly or bi-monthly (dependent on the # reported) bad date sheet. The dates are usually reported by street level workers in Calgary. My question is would anyone on PERB like to receive one? If so, we have a couple of options: 1) You can email me if you'd like one and I can email or fax it to you monthly. 2) I can email the sheet to the MOD and they can post it in the SP's area 3) You can check our website at www.aidscalgary.org/shift to see the latest one (although this process is sometimes delayed). Also, if anyone has anything they'd like to report you can also email me or pm with the information and I can add it on the sheet. If you think it would be more helpful to have a separate bad date sheet for indoor/outdoor let me know as well. The only thing is that some reports that we've had from outdoor workers also match some from indoor workers as well. So I'd appreciate any input you have, please email, pm or respond here. Sincerely, Roseline Stay Safe! __________________