for people living with hiv
Case managers work with people living with HIV and their families to coordinate supports, programs, and health care to make life with HIV better. In many cases, Ribbon case managers work with community members for many years to navigate various life stages, including aging with HIV, and pregnancy and parenting.
Case managers help with paperwork, making sense of government programs and services, and finding support to make day-to-day life more manageable. With permission of community members, case managers may also work closely with health care providers and other community programs. Case management may include:
- Assistance with provincial and federal benefits and income assistance (e.g. Employment Insurance, Income Assistance, and Old Age Security)
- Completing Persons with Disability applications, including working with other health care providers
- Navigating various health benefits programs, including the First Nations Health Benefits Plan and Interim Federal Health Program
- Support to access education, job training, and find work
- Coordinating care with multiple service providers and health providers
- Referrals to immigration advice
- Support, information, and referrals for reproductive and sexual health
- Affirming and stigma-free space to talk and learn about sexual health and substance use while living with HIV, including access to harm reduction supplies and referrals
- Connections related to substance use, mental health, and recovery
Case management is also available for people who do not have HIV and are looking for support to navigate sex, substance use, and HIV prevention.
The Ribbon Community approach to case management
Ribbon Community provides case management to people living with HIV and HIV-negative people. This team is led by a Registered Social Worker and uses tools from social work, although not everyone on the team is a social worker. Social workers allow us to offer some specialized services, such as Persons With Disability applications.
We also know that many people and communities who access Ribbon have had bad and harmful experiences with social work. Our approach to case management focuses on supporting and empowering each individual who chooses to trust us. We are committed to case management that honours each person’s journey to Ribbon, and creates space for sex, substance use, and living well with HIV. Ribbon provides ongoing supervision and training for the case management team and encourages feedback, complaints, and concerns from our communities.
Connect with a Case Manager
All people living with HIV are welcome to access case management, Indigenous peoples, and refugees, immigrants and newcomers with or without status in Canada. No referral is needed and our service is free.
In-person services in Vancouver:
Case management opens at 10am, Monday – Thursday each week. We are closed on statutory holidays.
Arrive before 3:30pm to see a case manager that day.
Newcomer women throughout BC:
Newcomer women living with HIV and their families
