PARN-Your Community AIDS Resource Network

PARN’s Goals:
To promote the well-being and independence of people living with or at risk for HIV in the counties of Peterborough, Northumberland, Haliburton and Kawartha Lakes by providing services such as: counselling, workshops, and information on progression and treatment of the condition for themselves and their families; referrals to other service providers; basic necessities to those in need; and assistance with other health issues.

To prevent the transmission of HIV by providing education, information and resources to groups at risk and the general public in the four counties of Peterborough, Northumberland, Haliburton and Kawartha Lakes.

PARN’s work is informed by the Social Determinants of Health (Income and social status, Culture/ Race, Gender, Employment, Biology and genetic endowment, Education, Social support networks, Social environments, Health services, Physical environments, Aboriginal status, Healthy childhood development, Personal health practices and coping skills), the principles of Harm Reduction (a range of pragmatic and evidence-based public health policies designed to reduce the harmful consequences associated with drug use and other high risk activities) and anti-oppression principles.

At PARN we understand that working in HIV means understanding marginalization and other factors that put people at risk for HIV and other blood borne and/or other sexually transmitted diseases. These include but are not limited to, poverty, homonegativity, homophobia/heterosexism, racism, HIV and AIDS-phobia, gender, sexuality and gender/sexuality inequality, as well as illicit drug use.