OUR MOVEMENT IN MOTION
March 15, 2021

National Harm Reduction Coalition creates spaces for dialogue and action that help heal the harms caused by racialized drug policies.


News and Announcements

OFFICE HOURS: Join us for a two-part upcoming series, Office Hours: The COVID-19 Vaccine, as we get together and explore the COVID vaccine — its relationship to people in our communities and its impact on our work as harm reductionists.

Part 1: COVID Vaccine + People Who Use Drugs, LGB TGNC+, People Living with HIV/AIDS, and Black, Indigenous and Other Communities of Color. Wednesday, March 17, 4-5:30 PM ET, Register here: bit.ly/nhrcvax1 — Join Dr. Hansel Tookes, IDEA Exchange and Dr. Kimberly Sue, PhD, Medical Director at NHRC to explore vaccine development, trials, and rollout in relation to people who use drugs, LGB TGNC+, people living with HIV/AIDS, and Black, Indigenous and other communities of color.

Part 2: COVID Vaccine + Harm Reduction Programs. Wednesday, March 31, 4-5:30 PM ET, Register here: bit.ly/nhrcvax2 — Don’t miss this panel of harm reduction programs discussing access for their participants that want the vaccine and support those that are not ready or do not want the vaccine using a harm reduction approach.

+ NEWS: Last week, Congress approved the first-ever dedicated federal funding for syringe services programs and harm reduction to the tune of $30 million in emergency funding. Read more about the historic funding in this press release ( [link removed] ) from the National Campaign for Harm Reduction Funding and in this tweet thread from Drug Policy Alliance’s Deputy Director of National Affairs, Grant Wilder Smith: [link removed]


Emergent and Exciting Work

+ TOOLKIT: Decriminalization of Sex Work and Sex Workers Social Media Toolkit — Support Women With a Vision and Sex Workers Advisory Committee in their campaign to share public education about the need to decriminalize sex work in Louisiana. The campaign continues and it’s not too late to jump in — use the hashtag #DeepSouthDecrim to join the conversation on social media and explore this social media toolkit with talking points, social media graphics, and information about LA HB67. [link removed]

+ ON THE GROUND: Cincinnati just got a brand new vending machine with safer sex, safer smoking and safer injection kits as well as naloxone thanks to regional HIV and AIDS service organization Caracole. Participants can call a number on the machine, talk to a trained Caracole staff member briefly and receive a personalized code. Harm reduction, on demand. [link removed]

+ ARTICLE: Women Are Leading Canada’s Safe Supply Movement ( [link removed] )— ”When systems fail us, we are forced to create new ones.” Learn more from the women creating safety on the frontline of the overdose crisis in Canada:
- ”Since being on a safe supply program, I no longer feel withdrawals. I can have an honest conversation about my drug use and what’s driving it with my doctor. I have time to focus on other things, like
connecting to my Indigenous heritage and creativity. My drug use has become recreational and less problematic. I feel safer, more comfortable and in less pain, and empowered to advocate for folks
everywhere to be able to access safe supply programs.” — Ashley Smoke in Filter Magazine
- ”People use drugs for a variety of reasons, and not all drug use is problematic. Abstinence is not a goal for everyone.” — Jessica Hales in Filter Magazine

+ RESOURCE: HCV Brief ([link removed]) — In response to Governor Jay Inslee’s directive, the Washington State Department of Health, Health Care Authority, and members of the Hep C Free Washington Coordinating Committee are striving to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030.

+ TRAINING: Harm Reduction in Indigenous Communities — Friday, April 9th from 10 AM - 12 PM PDT. What does harm reduction look like in Indigenous communities? Harm reduction work is much more than syringe access programs, and many tribal communities do not have access to syringe service programs. In this presentation we will explore what it means to do harm reduction in tribal communities, models of Indigenous harm reduction, and promising practices. Facilitated by Annette Hubbard. Register here: [link removed]


Policy

+TOOLKIT/EVENT/ETC: Join team NHRC, People’s Action ([link removed]) and advocates (like you) from across the country, for the 1st annual Week of Action! This March 22nd - 26th, you’ll have the chance to share out your campaign’s best practices and favorite tactics; to learn from folks on the ground and most importantly, to take action with your HR community.

+RESOURCE: We believe Harm Reduction education should be accessible for all. Gear up for NHRC’s week of action by using our FREE COUPON CODE “weekofaction” which will give you access to our NHRC online learning institute. Brush up on some skills and make some new ones back to share with your community. The institute will be live from March 15th-March 26th. [link removed]


#HarmRedNow

+ WEBINAR: Remember that our Foundational Friday's series continues 3/19 at 12 noon EST with Outreach 101! This 2 hour webinar will review basic information about how to keep you and your coworkers safe during outreach as well as discuss best practices and methods for success during outreach. Webinar participants will learn how to engage with program participants using a harm reduction approach while doing outreach. You can find the most up to date details on our website calendar! 

+ HEPCONNECT: Check out this commercial featuring grantees from HepConnect! Want more? Find the full length documentary by DorK Media Productions on YouTube here.

+ ROUNDTABLE: Join Faith in Harm Reduction for a virtual roundtable on faith, policy, and harm reduction on Wednesday, March 24th from 4 - 5:30 pm ET. Register here: [link removed] In the meantime, join the conversation on social media to create, share, and explore harm reduction altars as a ritual practice with Faith in Harm Reduction on Instagram: [link removed]


Work for the Movement

Full-time Hepatitis Care Coordinator (Oahu, HI)
[link removed]

Hiring? Send us a note about open positions in harm reduction to [email protected] to have a job post shared here.



National Harm Reduction Coalition
243 Fifth Avenue
Box 529
New York, NY 10016
United States
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