Applying Harm Reduction with At-Risk Youth and Young Adults

Nola Kesia Brantley & Withelma TiOra “T” Ortiz Walker Pettigrew

Training Description

More and more youth are using the internet and social media at younger ages, many times before experts recommend. So, it’s crucial for those that support system involved youth to understand the potential harms youth can be exposed to on the internet and on social media platforms. This training will provide participants with safety strategies and conversation starters to review with youth. Additionally this training will highlight how technology can place foster care and juvenile justice involved youth at high risk for commercial sexual exploitation.

Learning Objectives

· Identify at least 2 potential dangers of youth using the Internet and social media.

· Identify at least 3 safety strategies for using technology.

· Acquire at least 2 strategies for talking with system involved youth and their caregivers about Internet and social media.

Agenda

Day 1

9:00-9:15am  Welcome and introductions

9:15-9:30am  A Personal Harm Reduction Story: Nola’s Story

9:30-9:45am  Harm Reduction Strategies Regularly Utilized

9:45-10:00am  Defining Harm Reduction

10:00-10:15am  Exploring Personal Definitions of Success

10:15-10:30am  Harm Reduction Applies to Us

10:30-10:45am  Every Day Harm Reduction Practices Activity

10:45-11:00am  Harm Reduction Strategies Being Utilized By At-Risk Youth

11:00-11:15am  Break (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

11:15-11:30am  Harm Reduction and Individual Harm

11:30-11:45am  Harm Reduction and Community Harm

11:45am-12:00pm  Harm Reduction and Societal Harm

12:00-12:15pm  A Survivor’s Harm Reduction Story

12:15-12:30pm  Questions and Wrap-Up

Day 2

9:00-9:15am  Welcome and Recap

9:15-9:30am  Harm Reduction Fundamentals

9:30-9:45am  The Harm Reduction Continuum

9:45-10:00am  Rescuing Victims

10:00-10:15am  Harm Reduction and At-Risk Youth

10:15-10:30am  Applying Harm Reduction Principles

10:30-10:45am  Harm Reduction: Drug Use

10:45-11:00am  Harm Reduction: Risky Sexual Behavior

11:00-11:15am  Break (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

11:15-11:30am  Harm Reduction: Street Exposure

11:30-11:45am  Principles of the Stages of Change

11:45am-12:00pm  Applying the Stages of Change and Harm Reduction

12:00-12:15pm  Safety Planning

12:15-12:30pm  Questions and Wrap Up

Meet Our Trainer

Nola Kesia Brantley, CEO & Founder of Nola Brantley Speaks has become nationally recognized as a powerful Survivor voice for the issue of child sex trafficking through her moving and information packed public speaking. Her hard work and perpetual vigilance has brought both focus and concrete resources to this chronically underserved and largely unrecognized population of victimized youth. Nola’s approach aims to be holistic!

T Ortiz, A.K.A. Withelma “T” Ortiz Walker Pettigrew, is an international Anti-Trafficking Activist and Foster Youth Advocate. Beginning her work in Oakland as an Inaugural WestCoast Children's Clinic Y.A.P. advocate and a co-collaborator and leader during the inception of M.I.S.S.S.E.Y, advocating for Measure Y funding, and keynoting Alameda County's first HEAT conference. T is a leading force in advocating for the civil and social rights of all people, with specialized expertise in highlighting the intersectionality between the child welfare system and domestic child sex trafficking. Her Federal work was vital in the passing of The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act and The JVTA (Justice For Victims of Trafficking Act). In 2021, she was Honored by NCMEC (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children) as a “Hero Award” Recipient. In 2020, she was awarded “The Last Girl Award'' from Apne Aap International (India). In 2014, she was named one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the world”, a TIME Magazine “30 under 30” in 2013, and a GLAMOUR Magazine “Woman of the Year '' in 2011. Her work has influenced many organizations including The United Nations, Google, The U.S. Congress, The White House, The American Bar Association, The Aspen Institute, and The Johns Hopkins Institution. Notably, she has led a TEDx talk on Exploring Sexuality after Trauma. She has successfully petitioned the Associated Press to utilize practices conscious of survivor trauma and circumstance with her #NoSuchThingAsAChildProstitute Campaign. T is a Magna Cum Laude graduate from Morgan State University holding a degree in Strategic Communications.

This course meets the qualifications for (6.5) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.