Housing is harm reduction. The concept of harm reduction is congruent with a person-centered and trauma-informed approach to compassionate services. Instead of taking a punitive and risk averse approach in supporting folks in housing services, providers can model compassion and connection by having authentic conversations and empowering those in services with the tools to make real choices about their behaviors and lifestyle. This training will review the principles of harm reduction, support helpers with re-thinking how to conceptualize drug use, and increase awareness of the biases and barriers that are part of our service delivery model. Additionally, trainers will support attendees with applying harm reduction by practicing tools and best practices.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the principles of harm reduction and name 3 reasons to use a harm reduction approach.
- Learn about managing risk and evaluate biases that impact helpers and their risk tolerance.
- Explore how to apply effective harm reduction strategies in housing services.