Grant: MPD: Institute of Infection and Immunity - HIV/AIDS Open

CATIE, in partnership with other organizations, is organizing a national forum to discuss how knowledge exchange (KE) can be used to improve policy and programming at the front lines of the HIV epidemic in Canada. The forum will provide an opportunity for diverse stakeholders to come together to learn from each other. It will include discussion of case studies on how KE has impacted programming and policy in Canada, workshops that provide effective 'how to' tools and panel discussions that create an opportunity for open dialogue. Goal:To bring together researchers, people living with HIV, front line workers, program planners, policy makers and others to learn about and share experiences with using KE to improve HIV policy and programming. Format: The forum will involve mixed formats for KE, including: Keynote speakers, panel discussions, presentations, case studies, workshops and networking opportunities where organizations can profile KE resources. Expected Outcomes: 1. Participants will have an increased awareness of promising practices for improving policy or programming through the mobilization of evidence. This will be accomplished through highlighting successful KE practices that have led to changes in policy and programming in Canada. 2. Participants will have an increased understanding of how to plan and conduct KE. This will be accomplished through workshops or other formats that provide a more dynamic and interactive environment for participants to learn and to ask specific questions. 3. Participants will have an increased awareness of organizations in Canada that support KE activities and an increased opportunity to network with other individuals interested in HIV KE in Canada. This will be accomplished through specific networking opportunities.