Community Health Centre Specializing in HIV Prevention and Care

Nine Circles Vision Statement

We envision a future where all Manitobans who live with, or are vulnerable to HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, receive equitable health and social services that fully meet their needs.

Nine Circles Mission Statement

To provide low barrier, culturally safe prevention services, comprehensive care, advocacy and education for key populations susceptible to, or living with, HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, while working to eliminate stigma and advocate for health equities.

Core Values

BELONGING

We believe in safe, non-judgmental care that is client-centered and where clients and care providers make decisions together. We recognize the inherent strengths of our team, the community, and the individuals we serve. We meet people where they are at. We encourage clients to be active in their care, ask questions, share their stories, discuss their needs and put their health and harm reduction first. We understand that healthy therapeutic relationships require inclusion, transparency, and support to ensure decisions are made collaboratively, utilizing a strength-based approach. Our approaches recognize the impact of trauma, racism, social stigma and exclusion.

CLIENT CENTERED

It takes courage for people to come to Nine Circles for the first time and to shift the systems that hold systemic harms in place. We provide a safe and welcoming environment by employing anti-stigma and anti-racism approaches, and ensuring the physical and psychological safety of clients and staff.

SAFETY

It takes courage for people to come to Nine Circles for the first time and to shift the systems that hold systemic harms in place. We provide a safe and welcoming environment by employing anti-stigma and anti-racism approaches, and ensuring the physical and psychological safety of clients and staff.

Integrated

We use an integrated team approach, where health and social care professionals work together to ensure each client has access to the services they need. There should be no wrong doorways to access. All of ouractivities are linked with each other and with other community services, drawing on the knowledge and skills of health and social care professionals across a multi-disciplinary team.

CULTURALLY SAFE

We can achieve our mission and vision only by contributing to an improved understanding of how harms in the community are rooted in colonization and racism. We acknowledge our role in the systems of colonization and to an ongoing effort to dismantle them. We commit to treat each client as an individual with respect to their culture, customs, language, and spiritual beliefs. Our staff interacts with clients so that those who receive care define it, recognizing the importance of lifestyle, culture and religion and tackling the adverse impact of poverty, social exclusion, and stigma.

DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP

We plan, and develop policy and evaluation in collaboration with the community, including affected groups, community agencies, funders, health planners and especially clients. The principles of greater and more meaningful Engagement should be at the forefront of planning and development. In our work, we draw on the skills of a multi-disciplinary team and employ practical communication, collaborative planning and information sharing.

OUTCOME ORIENTED

Each program is guided by a work plan linked with the long-term strategic objectives of NineCircles. We operate from a harm reduction approach, empowering clients to make informed choices based on accurate information and various options. We evaluate our services and programs based on achievable and measurable objectives.

EXCELLENT STANDARD OF CARE

We strive for excellence in everything we do from a personal and organizational perspective. We align our services with the community’s needs through continuous evaluation and the use of best practices. In thiseffort, we acknowledge the many ways of knowing, including lived experience expertise, Indigenous ways of knowing and promising practice.

Current Strategic Priorities

Visibility

Our stakeholders know what we’re about.

Environment

We create an environment that makes it possible for people to talk about healthy sexuality and behaviours.

Access

We contribute to increasing Manitobans’ access to HIV, Hep C and STBBI testing, care and support.

Engagement

We make it easier for people to take care of their health on an ongoing basis.

Evidence

Our programs and services are based on evidence.