Acknowledgements
The training materials contained in this manual are based on the original interventions developed by Dr. Alan Li, Dr. Josephine Wong, Dr. Kenneth Fung and Dr. Mateusz Zurowski for the Community Champions HIV/AIDS Advocates Mobilization Project (CHAMP) that was carried out by the Community Alliance for Accessible Treatment (CAAT – formerly Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment) between 2011 and 2015. Since then, the CHAMP intervention has been adapted for use in frontline programming (e.g., Acceptance and Commitment to Empowerment) and a large-scale national intervention study to reduce mental illness stigma (e.g., Strength In Unity Study).
The CHAMPs-In-Action Training Manual is a resource developed to support effective facilitation of the CHAMP intervention in real-world settings to reduce HIV and related stigma, promote individual and collective resilience, and mobilize community action for social justice and equity. The learning activities in this manual have been refined based on research evidence, participant feedback, and insights gained by the authors through the CHAMP study, as well as the subsequent Acceptance and Commitment Training in the Strength in Unity Project.
An ancient sage, Lao Tzu, said, “To see things in the seed, that is genius.” The CHAMP intervention could not have come into being without the vision, faith, dedication and commitment of the original CHAMP Study Team. We therefore take this opportunity to acknowledge the valuable contribution of the following individuals and organizations for being the geniuses that saw the power of collective action towards social change.
CHAMP Research Team:
Principal Investigators:
Dr. Alan Tai-Wai Li (Regent Park Community Health Centre)
Dr. Josephine Pui-Hing Wong (Toronto Metropolitan University, formerly Ryerson University)
Dr. Kenneth Po-Lun Fung (University of Toronto, University Health Network)
Co-Investigators:
Omer Abdulghani (Alliance for South Asians AIDS Prevention)
Jack Kapac (University of Windsor)
Rene Lopez (Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples) Eleanor Maticka-Tyndale (University of Windsor)
James Murray (AIDS Bureau, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care)
Fanta Ongoiba (Africans in Partnership Against AIDS)
Shannon Ryan (Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention)
Richard Utama (Asian Community AIDS Services)
Mateusz Zurowski (University Health Network)
Staff:
Henry Luyombya; Alessandro Ciro Bisignano; Christian Hui; Dale Maitland; Kenneth Poon; and Amanuel Tesfamichael.
The CHAMP project advisory committee members and especially the CHAMP research participants.
We also acknowledge:
Dr. Kenneth P. L. Fung and Dr. Josephine P. H. Wong who co-authored the Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Training Manual (2014, Strength In Unity Research Project). Some sections of this manual are reproduced or adapted from the ACT Training Manual with permission.
CHAMP Alliance Coalition Partners:
Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS)
Africans in Partnership Against AIDS (APAA)
Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP)
Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples (CSSP)
Community Alliance for Accessible Treatment (CAAT)
Regent Park Community Health Centre:
for providing financial trusteeship
Funding Partner:
CHAMPs-In-Action program is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Community Action Fund.
Authors:
Dr. Alan Tai-Wai Li, Dr. Josephine Pui-Hing Wong, Dr. Kenneth Po-Lun Fung
Manual Preparation Coordination Support:
Mr. Solomon Lome (CHAMPs-In-Action Coordinator), Ms. Anita Adumattah (MN Practicum CAAT Trainee)
Graphic Design: Aries Cheung
Copy Editing: Derek Thaczuk
Edited E-Book version (2023):
Layout: Clarence Cheung, Editing: Keith Wong
CAAT-Community Alliance For Accessible Treatment
Website: https://caat.link/
