About Our Study

The study is called “Getting to Work: Development of an Evidence-Informed Educational Program for Professionals to Promote Labour Force Participation for People Living with HIV (PHAs)in Canada.” As part of a previous study, our team produced a conceptual framework booklet and series of fact sheets for employers, AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) and policy makers to highlight the barriers to labour force participation for PHAs and strategies to increase employment options for PHAs in Canada. See the HIV and Employment Framework booklet and Positive Participation Fact Sheets on this website!

The goal of the Getting to Work study is to develop a comprehensive, problem-based educational program for vocational rehabilitation workers and ASO staff to enhance labour force participation options for PHAs in Canada.

  • Objective 1: Determine the nature and extent to which key stakeholders (vocational rehabilitation workers & ASO staff) use the conceptual framework and series of fact sheets and assess barriers to using them
  • Objective 2: Develop a comprehensive, multi-dimensional, problem-based educational program for vocational rehabilitation workers to ultimately enhance labour force participation options for PHAs in Canada.

The research team carried out a variety of activities to evaluate and assess the conceptual framework and series of fact sheets. The team presented The Framework in three webinars to 49 members of the target audiences and continued to engage a group of 9 individuals over a three-month period to explore ways in which The Framework could be applied to their work. The feedback solicited in this phase of the study contributed to the development of The Getting to Work Learning Resource for People Engaged in Employment Work with People Living with HIV. To develop the learning resource, the research team held a focus group with the target audiences to assess their learning needs. Upon completion of the draft educational modules, a focus group was held to assess the appeal and applicability of the cases and content. An advisory committee that included PHAs, vocational rehabilitation professionals, employers and service providers guided this research process.