What is the Program?

Sharing Together for Life is an HIV disclosure program that was designed and assessed through a community research project undertaken by the Canada Research Chair in Education and Health at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).* The program was designed to help women better understand the impact of disclosure or non-disclosure of their HIV-positive status in different situations and to help them set up a permanent support system.

The program, which does not favour disclosure over non-disclosure, is made up of a series of nine workshops facilitated by a service provider and an HIV-positive woman. It encourages reflection through discussions and interactive activities. The program is not a form of group therapy. Rather, it helps participants to share, learn and think about the potentially sensitive issue of disclosing their HIV-positive status.

Main goals:

• to help  participants make  proactive and educated decisions in regard to disclosure in different situations
• to help participants plan strategies that allow them to cope with their decision to disclose or not to disclose
• to prepare participants to manage difficult situations or negative experiences that may occur during a planned or unwanted disclosure
• to help participants express their feelings concerning the disclosure or non-disclosure of their HIV-positive status
• to educate participants about Canadian laws relating to the disclosure of their HIV-positive status
• to foster relationships, knowledge sharing and support in a group of women