Shift- Peer Programs

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

Does anyone other then me wonder why the aidscalgary.org site is doing this? Sex workers who work online generally practice safe sex. You probably have more chance of contracting HIV from a random girl you pick up at a bar and have unsafe sex with then a professional sex worker.

I agree a peer component is important (especially for street level sex professionals as many are controlled by pimps and a peer support system would be helpful) but most of the agencies and girls online are not mixed up in that same world... and those who are you can usually tell within the first minute when talking to them on the phone.... and chances are those girls are not reading boards like this?!

I am on the fence with this post and would like to hear the ladies thoughts on this (and the guys). I would also like to hear from Roseline as to why they are targeting online escorts and why aidscalgary is involved. Surely you have done some preliminary case studies and found that women in the sex profession who use protection and are not using injection drugs are at a lower risk to contract hiv/aids. Also street level prostitution and "escorting" are very different area's of the sex trade industry (You might as well group massage spa's and stripclubs into this as well if your going to group the sex trade industry as being one in the same).

I am sure that street level prostitution is in great need of a peer program as you describe however escorts who work in in-call locations (and especially ones who contribute on these boards) are not being pimped and are working in the sex trade under their own free will.

When it comes to STD's online escorts are much lower risk then street level prostitution as they take better care of themselves and are adamant about using protection in most cases.

i personally think that this is a great idea for a group program! However I would never ever ever go to aids calgary to participate in a group for any reason! I do feel stronly that regular testing for hiv/aids and sti infections are EXTREMLY important, however I feel that there is a strong stigma attached to the sex trade workers, and would like to see community support in supporting the sex trade not in attaching more of a label on us for operating out of aids calgary. I think it is really great that a community organization is willing to fund an avocacy group to aid sex trade workers, but feel strongly that in having a group there will only promote the stigma further in the community, and those labels need to be addressed and not promoted within our community.

I feel that discretion is most valuable and will not be participating for this reason ONLY!

I have participated in similar programs before and found them invaluable in the aspect that we were able to share information with one another....... it is too bad really :(

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

This shift program was originally called "Stepping out" correct? It was a outreach program for people who wanted to get out of the business and needed help doing so. Why it was "Awarded" to AIDSCalgary is a concern!? It's almost like your trying to pass off AIDS as a fear for people to want to leave the business and we all know that if the ladies and hobbiests use proper protection they are at a low risk of passing or contracting the disease.

This is not a attack against the program (I want to make that clear as I am all for a peer program that helps people in need and I personally work with outreach programs and volunteer my services for such things as aidswalk and other community programs) I just want to make sure our site here is not being misused for propaganda or anything that has a hidden agenda.

What exactly does SHIFT stand for? I know a SHIFT program exists in Vancouver for "Sexual Health in Family Treatment" for families with sexual behavior problems so I find it odd that the AIDSCalgary would adopt this title.

I hope this agency is legit and would like to hear from someone who has some insight on what this program is all about first hand.

At this time I have heard nothing positive or negative about this organization. I was contacted by one SP privately who said that the shift program was going to pay her 30.00 to attend a 1.5 hour meeting plus pay for a bus to get to the meeting but it was 6 hours away on bus so she never went to the meeting. I would love to hear (in private or public) from anyone who has gone to a meeting and can give us some insight.

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

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

Thank you for the reply, I do hope to hear more feedback as I like your response to my post - especially in regards to the SHIFT name and the reassurance of no hidden agenda. You have a uphill battle to gain trust in the community but the program outline looks promising and your posts sound sincere.