U2 (Unwilling/Unable) Program
Unable to make healthy choice, U2 offers a safe alternative
There is a small number of Albertans who, as a result of their communicable disease, continue to place other Albertans at risk of infection. These people are placed in our U2 (Unwilling & Unable) Program, run as a partnership between URSA, Alberta Health Services and the Communicable Disease Unit.
U2 individuals include both adolescents and adults who are either unwilling or unable to prevent the spreading of infection to others. Many individuals may be influenced by a developmental disability or acquired brain injury, mental illness or dementia and their lives are frequently complicated by chronic drug abuse, involvement in the sex trade and criminal histories.
The U2 project aspires to deliver ongoing support through continuous evaluation of the client's needs
Many of the individuals in the U2 program have limited education, are unemployed and have difficulty obtaining even the basic necessities such as food ,clothing and shelter. These individuals have very complex needs and require a multi-faceted approach in order to have their needs met.
URSA currently operates two 2-bedroom apartments that house two individuals, each with their full-time support staff. The goals of the U2 Program are:
- To improve the capacity of community and health care agencies to protect the public from risks associated with the behaviors of individuals who have blood borne viruses and who persist in activities known to transmit the infection.
- To increase the ability of persons living with a blood borne virus to adopt healthier behaviors to improve the course of their disease and to decrease the chances of transmitting the infection to others.