Fife House AR F/A

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OUR CLIENTS AND PROGRAMSIn partnership with clients& communityOur ultimate goal is improving theservices we provide to current andfuture clients and to people withHIV/AIDS in the greater community. We havemade efforts in this regard in a number ofareas that deserve attention.A Direct Service Committee was formed inthe fall of 1998 comprising of a client from eachof the four programs, a Case Coordinator, theExecutive Director, a member of the Board, aformer client, a family member of a current orformer client and a volunteer representative.Members discuss issues and concerns relevantto Fife House services and have focussed on anumber of projects, including:• A reference handbook for Fife House clientsthat includes information about Fife Houseand other community services.• A survey to determine client interest inaccessing a food delivery program as well asworking to implement this program.• A client satisfaction survey for feedback andneeds identification. The development of thissurvey stems from the results of the Ministryof Health survey of the tenants at Jarvis, whichattempted to get feedback from the tenantsabout the services provided by Fife House.• A survey on the nutritional needs of FifeHouse clients.WE ENDEAVOUR TO MAKE THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR CLIENTS, ASWELL AS THE GREATER COMMUNITY IN WHICH FIFE HOUSE OPERATES,AS MEANINGFUL AS POSSIBLE.We have revised our Client Service Plan tomake it more meaningful, more thorough, andas flexible and client-centred as possible. Allthe work is done in partnership with clientsand a Support Worker. The focus is on theclient’s strengths and needs. Some of the newcomponents of this system include the following:clients come. Some of these committees includethe Key Partners Group, the Drug Court AdvisoryCommittee, the Harm Reduction Committee, andthe Women’s Outreach Network.Skills building and training are crucial inorder to provide the best service possible. Ourpersonnel have received training/re-training in• A revised application and assessment form. a number of areas, including: Psychosocial• A Personal Inventory Checklist where theclients can track and follow significantchanges in their lives.Rehabilitation, CPR, Crisis Intervention Training,Grief/Loss, Sexual Harassment, Addictions/HarmReduction, Mental Health Issues, Counselling• A Service Plan which delineates and tracks aclient’s goals, challenges and achievements.Skills, Trans-gender Issues, Computer Trainingand Conflict Resolution.• A Client Action Plan which breaks downa client’s goals into “hands on” work,advocacy and referrals needed.Annual Program Review Days ensure constantevaluation of our programs and the work wedo. This is an opportunity for program staff and• A Quarterly Client Review which reviewsthe previous three months.Our participation and work with othervolunteers to get together to review all aspectsof the work we do. The review includes ananalysis of our mission statement, philosophy ofservice providers and agencies, from clientreferrals to sitting on committees, is integral tothe work we do. It speaks to the communities inwhich Fife House exists and from which ourcare, program and resident goals and objectivesand an evaluation of our direct services in orderto guarantee that our focus remains clientfocussed.F I F E H O U S E A N N U A L R E P O R T 1 9 9 8 / 9 9 • P A G E 2
THE PEOPLE WE SERVELiving with HIV/AIDSMy health is my priority. In 1989, I was ill and learned I had HIV. Ihave since worked to reduce stress, and have improved my housingsituation by moving in with Fife House four years ago. My currenttreatment regime includes vitamin therapy, naturopathic medications,herbal therapy and a strict diet, but no HIV/AIDS medications.HIV/AIDS has changed over the years. There is less mortality andhope for a longer life. There are also new medical problems toface – like dementia and other symptoms that are either HIV ortreatment related.Living with Fife House has made me more relaxed. I feel at homeand have become more involved in my building because Fife Housecares. I also volunteer with PWA, and teach art, relaxation andmeditation classes.I’m a heterosexual woman and the mother of three daughters.I’ve had some trouble with the law in the past and struggle withaddiction issues. I found out I was positive in 1993. My status hascaused me to have double pneumonia, pneumonia, PCP, MAC,thrush and oral herpes. I’m on the cocktail now though, feel a lotbetter and have few side effects.A friend told me about Fife House and helped me apply to be aresident. I’ve lived at Fife House for a year now and my life is gettingon track. I’m getting help with my addictions and I see my daughtersmore often. My thinking is clearer and my health is improvingbecause I have a better understanding of my disease. But it ishard to say what the future holds for me. My ambitions are simple –I want to get healthy and I want to stay clean.Thinking about my future makes me think of the song “EmptyChairs, Empty Tables” from Les Miserables. I often ask myself whyI’m alive when many of my friends have gone. I am healthy but theweight of all of the losses, both of friends and clients through volunteering,has kept me from making long term plans – even for a yearahead. I would love to make a living at designing and selling my artsand crafts, but the fear of losing support keeps me from doing anyprogressive planning. I take things one day at a time.
Page 1 and 2: 1998/99 ANNUAL REPORTA Year of Chan
Page 3: PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S ME
Page 7 and 8: PROFILING OUR BOARD PRESIDENTSA Ric
Page 9 and 10: RECOGNITIONSpecial thanks…Board o
Page 11 and 12: FIFE HOUSE FOUNDATION INC. CONDENSE
Page 13 and 14: DONORSThanks for your generosityInd
Page 15 and 16: Editor: Hester FuchsThis Annual Rep

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