ACT Volunteer Role Description

Advisory Committee

(Recruiting)




Programme


Positive Youth Outreach (PYO)

Supervisor


PYO Program Coordinator

ACT's
Mission Statement


The AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) develops and delivers innovative programs and services that promote the dignity, health and well-being of individuals and communities living with, affected by and at risk for HIV/AIDS..




Purpose


Positive Youth Outreach (PYO) is a Toronto based, peer-driven program with the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT).

PYO's mission is to empower, support, and affirm the lives of young people under 30 living with HIV.

PYO’s vision is to empower diverse young people living with HIV to engage their voices, embrace the promise of tomorrow, promote and contribute to a healthier world for themselves and their communities by:
· Providing concrete and practical tools that equip positive youth to make informed choices,
· Increasing awareness of options and opportunities by encouraging and supporting leadership development.

Benefits


The PYO Advisory Committee will act as a conduit and an advocate for meeting the diverse needs of young people living with HIV and AIDS within the AIDS Committee of Toronto’s HIV/AIDS youth services. The Committee will support, guide and inform the realization of the goals and objectives of PYO. The Committee will work within ACT’s policies and procedures, structure, legal, accountability and funding requirements while advocating for change as needed.

Time Commitment


hours per week
for months
Details:
2 hours per month, plus additional duties as assigned

Duties


The Volunteer will:
· Increase the profile of PYO within ACT and youth communities in Toronto by informing stakeholders of youth communities’ perspectives.

· Increase the profile of ACT within youth communities in Toronto.

· Develop and maintain strong partnerships and communication among ACT, stakeholders, policy makers and youth communities.

· Advocate for and recommend policy and procedure changes within ACT in order to facilitate service to young people living with HIV and AIDS.

· Advocate within ACT for funding to maintain and increase programming and services. While ACT is responsible for funding, the Advisory Committee may facilitate and/or provide advice on potential sources of funding.

· Will have a representative on the hiring committee for any PYO staff, for hiring purposes.

· Be informed of and advise on the annual program outline, work plan, and outcomes and advise staff regarding program development, expansion and vision.

· Create a mechanism whereby the ACT/ PYO partnership jointly develops funding and resource reinvestment strategies for youth communities.

· Review the selection process of the Advisory Committee twice a year. This process should ensure that the Guiding Principles of Selection of the Advisory Committee are observed.

· Review the Terms of Reference of the Advisory Committee no less than once a year and make changes accordingly.

Members of the Advisory Committee are encouraged to become members of ACT. Members of the Advisory Committee should be selected to enhance capacity building. In order to represent the diversity of young people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, membership of the Committee must aim to reflect this diversity, and may require a broad outreach and/or a selective consideration of membership in consultation with ACT.

Personal Qualities
and Skills


Required Qualities & Skills:
The Committee will strive to maintain that 60% of the committee are young people under the age of 30, and 60% are PHAs. The remaining committee members should consist of persons who are living with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS, and service providers.

The Committee recognizes that this may be a challenge due to perceived personal and social risk in being affiliating to an HIV Advisory Committee and an AIDS service organization.

Guiding Principles for Selection of Advisory Committee Members:

Membership in the PYO Advisory Committee is open to:
· Individuals that support the mission and vision statement.
· Organizations that support the mission and vision statement.

Procedure for becoming a member of PYO:
· Interested individuals or organizations will be referred to or contact the Committee.
· Individuals should submit a letter of intent that demonstrates their interest and support for PYO’s mission and vision.
· New applicants will be considered during the spring and fall meetings, and selection will be made to ensure that diversity is maintained, and to ensure that as many seats are filled by young people living with HIV and AIDS.

Training
Requirements


On-the-job Training with Supervisor and/or other Volunteers



For more information about or to apply for this role, contact:
Program Volunteer Resources Manager
AIDS Committee of Toronto
399 Church Street, 4th floor
Toronto, M5B 2J6

phone: (416) 340-2437