BY TRACY RYAN —Providing services and solving social problems with shrinking budgets is the focus of a one-day interactive conference where participants will discuss best practices, evidence-based programs, and cutting-edge ideas to tackle tough social issues in culturally-appropriate and more effective ways. The conference, sponsored by a diverse group of service providers, community organizations, and concerned citizens will be held October 22 in Honolulu.
“Doing More with Less” will feature local service providers who will discuss ways of developing programs to solve a host of interrelated social problems using harm reduction philosophies. Conference organizers hope the frank discussion of their challenges and successes will help attendees improve their programs and services and address emerging issues. Laurie Temple, Legislative Program Director, Hawaii Chapter of the ACLU and Dr. Valli Kalei Kanuha, Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology at UH Manoa will be keynote speakers.
The conference will focus on harm reduction approaches to social issues, including seniors, drug users, suicide, bullying, violence, sex work, safer tattooing, homelessness, over-reliance on incarceration and cultural competency.
According to Heather Lusk, Executive Director of the CHOW Project, one of conference co-sponsors,
“More than ever, we need evidence-based, effective and culturally appropriate ways to tackle the social and health challenges our communities face. This conference will highlight homegrown harm reduction practices and facilitate much needed discussions about harm reduction-based solutions to complex problems.”
What is Harm Reduction?
Harm reduction is a philosophy and a set of strategies for working with individuals engaged in potentially harmful behaviors. The main objective is to reduce potential dangers and health risks associated with such behaviors, even for those who are not willing or able to completely stop. Harm reduction uses a non-judgmental, holistic and individualized approach to support incremental change and increase the health and well-being of individuals and communities.
“DOING MORE WITH LESS”
When: October 22, 2012, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, HI
Registration Fee: Regular $25.00 Student $20.00
Registration Material available at: www.harmreductionhawaii.wordpress.com
Here is the agenda:
Harm Reduction is a philosophy and set of strategies for working with individuals engaged in potentially harmful behaviors. The main objective is to reduce the potential dangers and health risks associated with such behaviors, even for those who are not willing or able to completely stop. Harm reduction uses a non-judgmental, holistic and individualized approach to support incremental change and increase the health and well-being of individuals and communities.
Conference Co-Sponsors Include: AIDS Education Project l AIDS Community Care Team l CHOW Project l Community Alliance on Prisons l Domestic Violence Action Center l Drug Policy Forum of Hawai‘i l Gregory House Programs l Harm Reduction Hawai‘i l Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Injury Prevention and Control Section l Hawai‘i Department of Health’s STD/AIDS Prevention Branch l Hawai‘i Island HIV/AIDS Foundation l Hawai‘i Pacific University’s School of Social Work l Hawai‘i Youth Coalition l Hawai‘i Youth Services Network l Hep Free Hawai‘i l Hepatitis Support Network of Hawai‘i l Kawai Foundation lLife Foundation l Mālama Pono l Maui AIDS Foundation l National Association of Social Workers, Hawai‘i Chapter l Office of the Lieutenant Governor l University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry l University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Office of Public Health Studies lWaikiki Health Center’s Care-a-Van Program
8:30am – 10:00am Opening Plenary
Garden Lanai
Oli – Mono iki Ahnee – Team Leader and Prevention Specialist, Life Foundation
Welcome – Tracy Ryan – Executive Director, Harm Reduction Hawaiʻi
Plenary Speakers:
Laurie Temple – Legislative Program Director and Staff Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaiʻi
Truth to Power: A Case Study in Effective Legislative Activism for Social Change
Valli Kalei Kanuha – Assistant Professor, Undergraduate Chair, Sociology Dept. University of Hawaii at Manoa
Home Grown Harm Reduction Approaches
Plenary Moderator:
Heather Lusk – Executive Director, CHOW Project
Community Panel – Doing More with Less
Paul Oshiro – Youth and Adult Homeless Outreach Program Manager, Waikiki Health Center
Kunane Drier – Prevention Director, Life Foundation
Thaddeus Pham – Adult Viral Hepatitis Prevention Coordinator, Hawaii Department of Health
10:15am – 11:30am Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session 1:
Harm Reduction 201: Beyond the Basics
Garden Lanai
Speakers:
Peter Tuiolosega Silva – Epidemiological Specialist, STD/HIV/Hepatitis Program, Hawaiʻi Department of Health
Heather Lusk – Executive Director, CHOW Project
Description:
Harm reduction is a philosophy and set of strategies used to reduce harm and support the overall optimal health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. There are many misconceptions about harm reduction and this interactive workshop will build upon the basics of harm reduction and will provide participants concrete examples of harm reduction with an opportunity to respond to common objections and be able to articulate concepts of harm reduction which builds bridges and collaborations while decreasing divisiveness.
Breakout Session 2:
Reducing Harm through Trauma Informed Practice
Carnation Room
Speakers:
Lorraine Robinson – Executive Director, TJ Mahoney & Associates, Ka Hoʻāla Hou No Nā Wāhine
Davida Aila, Current Resident, TJ Mahoney & Associates, Ka Hoʻāla Hou No Nā Wāhine.
Sheila Ako, Current Resident, TJ Mahoney & Associates, Ka Hoʻāla Hou No Nā Wāhine.
Description:
The presentation will focus on a unique stage-based change model, developed and utilized in a residential reentry program for women transitioning from prison to the community. The approach is empowerment focused, strengths-based, trauma informed and serves to increase resilience in program participants. The model has universal application, can be easily adapted to various settings and populations and as applied, enhances successful community reentry for women.
Breakout Session 3:
How to Speak Harm Reduction: Cultural Competency for Pacific Islanders
Plumeria Room
Speakers:
Innocenta Sound-Kikku – Kokua Kalihi Valley
Merina Sapolu – Kokua Kalihi Valley
Moderator: Thaddeus Pham
Description:
A brief overview of Samoan and Chuukese cultures as related to health services, followed by a group discussion sharing best practices when working with these communities.
Breakout Session 4:
Sex Work and Trafficking; A Harm Reduction Perspective
Pakalana Room
Speaker: Susan C. Dewey – Assistant Professor, University of Wyoming, Gender and Women’s Studies
Moderator: Tracy Ryan
Description:
This will be a discussion of harms caused by some anti-trafficking rhetoric and policies.
11:30am – 1:00pm LUNCH (ON YOUR OWN)
1:00pm – 2:15pm Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session 1:
A Discussion Panel; Addressing Substance Abuse & Substance Intoxication Within Hawaiʻi’s Emergency and Transitional Homeless Shelters.
Garden Lanai
Speakers:
Jason Espero – Program Manager, Next Step Shelter
Connie Mitchell – Executive Director, Institute for Human Services
Pamela Menter – Program Director, Safe Haven/Mental Health Kokua
Daryl Vincent – Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Vets
Moderator: Paul Oshiro – Youth and Adult Homeless Outreach Program Manager, Waikiki Health Center
Description:
Substance abuse is much more common among homeless people than in the general population. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates that 38% of homeless individuals are currently dependent on alcohol and that another 26% of homeless individuals currently abuse other types of narcotics. Emergency and Transitional Shelters in Hawaii are having to address the issues of substance abuse and substance intoxication within the shelter setting, 2 out of 3 homeless individuals who enter the shelter system either have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, narcotics, and/or both.
Breakout Session 2:
Using Harm Reduction Strategies to Decrease Bullying and Suicide Among Youth at-risk in Hawaii
Carnation Room
Speakers:
Antonia Alvarez – Director of Youth Suicide& Bullying Prevention, Mental Health America of Hawaii
Dr.Robert Bidwell – Pediatrician at Kapiolani Medical Center and faculty at JABSOM, UH Manoa
Pua Kaninau-Santos – Director, Hawai`i Suicide Prevention Education, Awareness, Research (SPEAR) Foundation; staff at Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center in Honolulu
Moderator: Nancy Kern – Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Hawaii Department of Health
Description:
This session will provide data and statistics on the risks of bullying and its correlation to suicide. Panelists will provide examples of how bullying and mental health challenges impact the risk for suicide among youth in our state. They will discuss a comprehensive approach to addressing these challenges – especially for youth at-risk in Hawaiʻi.
Breakout Session 3:
Cultural Competency When Supporting Transgenders
Plumeria Room
Speakers:
Alexis Charpentier – Waikiki Health Center
Barbara Brouillet – Public Health Nurse, Hawaii Department of Health
Ashliana Hawelu – Executive Director, Kulia Na Mamo
Moderator: Tracy Ryan, Executive Director, Harm Reduction Hawaii
Description:
A brief overview of Asian and Pacific Islander transgender culture followed by a group discussion sharing best practices, when working with this community.
Breakout Session 4:
Working with Active Users
Pakalana Room
Speakers:
Jane Hanson – Hepatitis Care Coordinator, Hep Free Hawaiʻi
Kelly Myers, LCSW, CSAC – Waikiki Health Center’s PATH Clinic
Stacy Lenze – Research and Linkage to Care Coordinator, CHOW Project
Moderator: Dina Morley LCSW, CSAC Next Step Shelter, Waikiki Health Center
Description:
3-person panel will discuss working with active drug users and how to successfully engage them in the process of harm reduction. They will discuss how harm reduction helps people to begin the treatment process and stay safe while using (overdose prevention). The panel will also be able to explain best approaches to working with clients who are using and experiencing mental health issues.
2:15 pm – 2:30 pm Break
2:30pm – 3:45pm Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session 1:
Understanding and working with Hawaiʻi’s youth
Garden Lanai
Speakers:
2. Debra Smith – Outreach Supervisor, Youth Outreach Project
3. Stacy Lenze – Research and Linkage to Care Coordinator, CHOW Project
4. Calvin Marquez – Events and Development Manager, Life Foundation
5. Youth
Moderator: Brandi Tamasoa – HIV Prevention Specialist, Life Foundation
Description:
This session will address Hawaii’s at-risk youth and the lack of culturally competent services.
Breakout Session 2:
Express Yourself, Protect Yourself: Harm Reduction and Body Art
Carnation Room
Speaker: Rodney Powell – Traditional Tattoo Artist
Description:
Tattoos are a common way for people to express themselves, but done incorrectly, can spread hepatitis B and C and other infectious disease. This session will highlight the experience of a seasoned tattoo artist who have been involved in ensuring their art is done as safely as possible. Concrete examples of proper equipment, set-up and procedure will be discussed, as well as ways to discuss issues of safety with artists.
Breakout Session 3:
Reforming Drug Policy: Past and Future Harm Reduction Strategies
Plumeria Room
Speaker: Jeanne Ohta, Executive Director, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaiʻi
Description:
A directed discussion of drug policy reform using harm reduction strategies; what we’ve seen, what we are working on, and what we can learn from other communities. For many harm reductionists, policy change seems daunting, yet many harm reduction efforts would be more effective when coupled with policy reform. This discussion will include a short update on current efforts to reform drug policy in Hawaiʻi but will focus on areas identified by participants as priorities for improving our drug policies.
Breakout Session 4:
The Kupuna Community and Harm Reduction
Pakalana Room
Speakers:
Pam Vessels – Co-Director of APLE
Darlene Hein – Chief of Community Services for Waikiki Health Center
Valorie Taylor – Gerontology Program Director for Child and Family Services
Description: As the population ages a new dimension has been added to harm reduction. Dealing with a group as diverse as young healthy boomers to the frail elderly. We will discuss how to address such issues as hepatitis C, addiction, hoarding, HIV, homelessness and elder abuse by using harm reduction techniques. We invite everyone to join us in this discussion. If you or your agency have not been impacted by the aging population be prepared, the numbers are growing and YOU need to prepare.