Applying Harm Reduction with At-Risk Youth and Young Adults

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

Training Description

Foster youth are at high risk of unsafe/unhealthy behaviors, so it is necessary for those who support them to learn how to most effectively do so. Harm reduction is being identified as a best practice for reducing harm and increasing safety. This training will provide an overview of harm reduction and how apply it with at-risk system-involved youth. The trainer will focus on applying harm reduction principles in alignment with the Stages of Change model with system involved youth. The trainer will also touch on risk identification and safety planning.

Learning Objectives

· Participants will be able to explain the concept of harm reduction.

· Participants will be able to apply at least 1 harm reduction principle with system

involved youth.

· Participants will acquire at least 3 harm reduction strategies they can utilize with

system involved youth who have engaged or are engaging in unsafe behaviors.

Agenda

10:00-10:15am  Welcome and introductions

10:15-10:30am  A Personal Harm Reduction Story: Nola’s Story

10:30-10:45am  Harm Reduction Strategies Regularly Utilized

10:45-11:00am  Defining Harm Reduction

11:00-11:15am  Exploring Personal Definitions of Success

11:15-11:30am  Harm Reduction Applies to Us

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

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

12:00-12:15pm  Harm Reduction and Societal Harm

12:15-12:30pm  Break (CE hours not offered for this time)

12:30-12:45pm  Harm Reduction Fundamentals

12:45-1:00pm  The Harm Reduction Continuum

1:00-1:15pm  Rescuing Victims

1:15-1:30pm  Harm Reduction and At-Risk Youth

1:30-2:30pm  Lunch Break (CE hours not offered for this time)

2:30-2:45pm  Applying Harm Reduction Principles

2:45-3:00pm  Harm Reduction: Drug Use

3:00-3:15pm  Harm Reduction: Risky Sexual Behavior

3:15-3:30pm  Harm Reduction: Street Exposure  

3:30-3:45pm  Break (CE hours not offered for this time)

3:45-4:00pm  Principles of the Stages of Change

4:00-4:15pm  Applying the Stages of Change and Harm Reduction

4:15-4:30pm  Safety Planning

4:30-4:45pm  Vignettes

4:45-5:00pm  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 (5.5) 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.