Through the Systems Navigation Access and Partnership (SNAP) Project, Community Health Centre (CHC) grantees are working to advance systems navigation efforts to improve access and health across Canada. This blog explores the work of Winnipeg based CHC, Nine Circles and the impact the funding has had in their community.

Question 1: Tell us a bit about your CHC, catchment area and community that you serve.

Nine Circles Community Health Centre provides low barrier, culturally safe prevention services, comprehensive care, advocacy and education for key populations susceptible to, or living with, HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, while working to eliminate stigma and advocate for health equities. Nine Circles serves communities throughout Manitoba.

Question 2: Tell us about your SNAP Project?

Our snap project included supporting HIV Self-Test Kit distribution through Manitoba, as well as research to identify opportunities and challenges related to systems navigation within the context of this new service.

Question 3: Why was your project important?

This project was important because HIV rates, along with other STBBIs, are rising in Manitoba at unprecedented rates, and affect equity-deserving groups who face barriers to accessing equitable prevention, treatment and care.

Question 4: What has the impact of your SNAP project been?

We are thrilled to share that the project supported the development and/or strengthening of relationships with over 60 new HIV Self-test kit distribution sites throughout Manitoba, including many in First Nations communities and hard to reach, remote locations. We also created new resources, distributed many self-test kits to hard to reach populations throughout Manitoba, generated new insight and knowledge related to the needs of community members and service providers who benefit from HIV self-test kit distribution. A key finding that emerged from our work is that community members appreciated and benefitted greatly from the convenience of at-home testing, and service providers recommended that access to free HIV self-test kits be maintained. You can view the resource here.

Question 5: What have been the challenges around your respective SNAP Projects?

A key challenge emerged throughout the project in needing to adapt the project to meet the needs of the community, however we were able to overcome those challenges and turn them into strengths by working closely with our team to think creatively about solutions.

Question 6: What impact do you hope your evaluation and increased support will leave for clients in the long term?

Our hope is that the project will lead to information about HIV being shared throughout communities in Manitoba where talking about HIV is heavily stigmatized, as well as through service providers who are traditionally not involved in sexual health care. Combined, these two sustained impacts will lead to an increase in awareness of HIV where it is needed most!

Question 7: How do you hope to continue to sustain your SNAP project? Would more funding allow for your project to continue? 

We are working to share the results from our findings with community members and have included the data and resources in our advocacy efforts for health systems to offer free HIV self-test kits direct to community (with support for the organizations responsible for their distribution.

“Thank you to the team at North End Community Health Centre for their work on the SNAP Project!“