NEOCH WEBINAR: Harm Reduction in Homeless Services

tuesday, December 5, 2-4PM

Learn how people experiencing addiction are criminalized, penalized, and dehumanized within social services, and what you can do to create a healthier environment for the people you serve. We'll discuss harm reduction practices, how racism in our social service systems leads to Black and Brown people being less likely to be given those options, and how we all can make changes to save lives.

Topics will include the basics of the harm reduction approach, what it means, language and how to talk to/about people who use drugs, how to the apply harm reduction approach to your life, and how to be an advocate for the people that fall under the umbrella. Learn about infectious diseases, overdoses, fentanyl testing strips, and the negative outcomes of taking the abstinence only approach and why we need to change that narrative.

This webinar can be applied to many situations in our life when dealing with not only drug users, but also people in recovery and anyone in between (like casual drug users). Harm reduction has a very wide scope and if we take the time to evaluate these potentially harmful situations, we can save lives.

While we will focus on Cuyahoga County, the bulk of information presented in this webinar will be applicable in any community.

register here.

MEET THE PRESENTERS

Ashley Rosser

Thrive Peer Support

she/her
Ashley is the Harm Reduction Specialist for Thrive Peer Support. She has a lived experience in drug use, homelessness, and is now in recovery herself. Ashley spends her time educating the community on harm reduction education and Narcan distribution.; supplying the community with what they need to save lives.

Spencer Dolezal

Writers in Residence

he/him
Spencer is the Reentry, Community Outreach, and Advocacy Director for Writers in Residence, an Ohio Nonprofit that teaches creative writing to incarcerated youth and aids in their reentry into society. Spencer is originally from the west side of Cleveland and studied education at Ashland University. He later spent seven years working in the nonprofit world in Ashland, Ohio as a mentor and wraparound facilitator before returning to the Cleveland area to join Writers in Residence. Spencer is passionate about helping people see themselves, confront big challenges in their lives, and feel like they have a chance to always move forward.