Grant: Team Grant: HIV/AIDS and STBBI Community-Based Research - Young women - LOI

Saskatchewan (SK) has high HIV, HCV, and syphilis infection rates, with people who inject drugs and Indigenous women overrepresented. Perinatal women living with complex situations (e.g., without shelter, drug use, incarceration, sex work), face increased safety and health risks for sexually transmitted and bloodborne illnesses (STBBI). Also of concern is vertical transmission of STBBI infections during pregnancy or delivery. Pregnancy presents a unique intervention window for wraparound cultural supports as indicated in our Sanctum 1.5 Hope through Strength project with people with lived experience (PWLE). We engaged people who use(d) the Sanctum 1.5 Care Model, and they report renewal of hope and dreams with parenting strengths. By prioritizing access to wraparound HIV, HCV and STBBI services, targeting stigma, and addressing vertical transmission, we can reduce risks among SK moms and infants. In this LOI, our team presents SK "Rivers of hope through strength" to situate pregnancy wraparound supports - stable housing and drug treatment as an integral homegrown solution for STBBI prevention and care service. We will extend our research team's collaboration with PWLE, Sanctum 1.5 (our community partner), community organizations and Indigenous partners in co-developing culturally responsive solutions to improve health and wellness for moms/infants similar to Sanctum 1.5 clients. Using community-led approaches that align with the Canada's STBBI Action Plan, we seek to reduce impacts of drug use on STBBI among perinatal women. We will 1) hold a SK "Perinatal STBBI Solutions Summit" with people with a stake in scaling back STBBI. 2) Form a "Perinatal STBBI SK Coalition" with PWLE and stakeholders. We will jointly plan for regional needs using community-centered strategies, prioritizing mentorship for PWLE, honoring Indigenous peoples' strengths, and leveraging stakeholder input to build collective and unique SK team grant solutions that align community priorities.