Developing a Homegrown Harm Reduction ConferenceHeather LuskCHOW Project,Honolulu, Hawaiʻihlusk@chowproject.org

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Hawaiʻi’s Homegrown Harm Reduction Conferences• November 2007

– 170 attendees, fancy hotel, mainland speakers, large budget

• November 2009– 190 attendees, small budget,

all local• November 2010

– mini conference focus on transgenders

• October 22, 2012– 230 attendees, small budget,

all local

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Hawaiʻi HR Conference Planning Basics• Community collaborative

conference– Come one, come all – No leader (but having chair

important)– Collective decision-making– Tasks distributed

• One agency must be willing to be fiscal agent

• Planning starts one year out for large budget, 9 months out for smaller

Step 1: Planning Committee• Diverse agency representation• Type of participation – need those

with:– Vision– Community connections– Willingness to do legwork

• Develop budget• Develop timeline and task list

– Assign each committee member• Subcommittees

– Program, marketing/outreach, fundraising• Agree upon meeting

frequency/length

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Planning Committee Tasks• Develop and send

out press release• Scholarships • Compile Bios• Compile handouts• Develop and Print

Final Program• Develop and print

evaluations• Order portfolios• Stuff portfolios• Registration

• Coordinate volunteers for conference

• Order and pick up leis

• Buy and deliver food

• Signs• AV coordination

on-site• Thank yous• Exhibits• Volunteers• Donations• Raffle

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One Collective Definition of Harm ReductionHarm 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.

Step 2: Identify Co-Sponsors• In beginning, no commitment

other than supporting conference– Later asked for donations

• Donations included sponsoring parking for meetings, copies, buying folders etc

• Each planning member assigned agencies to ask, formal letter created

• Demonstrated community buy-in– Made fundraising and marketing

easier plus easier to find speakers

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Hawaiʻi HR Conference Co-SponsorsAIDS Education Project AIDS Community Care Team

CHOW Project Community Alliance on Prisons Domestic Violence Action Center Drug Policy Forum of Hawai‘i Gregory House Programs Harm Reduction Hawai‘i Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Injury Prevention and Control Section Hawai‘i Department of Health’s STD/AIDS Prevention Branch Hawai‘i Island HIV/AIDS Foundation Hawai‘i Pacific University’s School of Social Work Hawai‘i Youth Coalition Hawai‘i Youth Services Network Hep Free Hawai‘i Hepatitis Support Network of Hawai‘i Kawai Foundation Life Foundation Mālama Pono Maui AIDS Foundation National Association of Social Workers, Hawai‘i Chapter Office of the Lieutenant Governor University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Office of Public Health Studies Waikiki Health Center’s Care-a-Van Program

Step 3: Save the Date and Location

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Step 4: Develop Program• Pros and cons to abstract process

– Abstracts take longer but you may identify unknown star

• Brainstorm topics for plenary and breakout sessions

• Identify experts in field who could discuss topics – focus on homegrown

• Give each plenary and each breakout session a contact on the planning committee

• Use form to collect title, description, objectives, AV needs, contact information

• Harm reduction police??

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Step 4: Develop Program

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Step 4: Develop Program8:30 AM Opening PlenaryGarden LanaiLaurie Temple, Legislative Program Director and Staff Attorney, ACLU HawaiʻiA Cast Study in Effective Legislative Activism for Social ChangeDr. Valli Kalei Kanuha, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Chair, Sociology Dept. UH MānoaHomegrown Harm Reduction ApproachesCommunity Voices in Harm Reduction 

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM Breakout Sessions:Harm Reduction: Beyond the Basics – Garden LanaiReducing Harm through Trauma Informed Practice – Carnation RoomHow to Speak Harm Reduction: Cultural Competency for Pacific Islanders – Plumeria RoomSex Work and Trafficking: A Harm Reduction Perspective – Pakalana Room•  

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Step 4: Develop Program1:00 PM – 2:15 PM Breakout Sessions: Addressing Substance Use and Intoxication within Hawaii’s Shelters – Garden LanaiUsing Harm Reduction Strategies to Decrease Bullying and Suicide – Carnation RoomCultural Competency when Supporting Transgenders – Plumeria RoomWorking with Active Users – Pakalana Room•  2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Breakout Sessions:Understanding and Working with Hawaii’s Youth – Garden LanaiHarm Reduction and Body Art – Carnation RoomReforming Drug Policy: Past and Future Harm Reduction Strategies – Plumeria RoomKupuna Community and Harm Reduction – Pakalana Room 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM Closing Plenary

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Step 5: Marketing and Outreach• Wordpress.com has free

websites• Identify tech-savvy committee

members– QR codes, social media

• Identify volunteer to write press release

• Create email blurb for committee to send to contacts

• Send copies of fliers to every co-sponsor

• Registration online if possible

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Step 5: Logistics for Day of Conference• Volunteers

– AV– Room monitors– Runners

• Have last committee meeting also be materials assembly

• Committee task list and cell phone contacts for everyone

• Speaker confirmations

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Step 6: Debrief Afterwards• Importance of meeting soon

after to capture lessons learned

• Ensure thank-yous are sent to speakers and sponsors

• Review evaluation data• Capture feedback for next

conference• Appreciate planning

committee

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Hawaiʻi Harm Reduction Resources

• Harm Reduction Hawaiʻiwww.harmreductionhawaii.org• CHOW Projectwww.chowproject.org• Drug Policy Forum of Hawaiʻi• www.dpfhi.org