MaHRTI Newsletter
February 2021
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MaHRTI will be sharing harm reduction news and resources.
If there is anything you are seeking or interested in sharing,
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Syringe Services Program Core Training
In December 2020, MaHRTI along with the Maryland Health Department Center for Harm Reduction Services (CHRS) conducted the SSP Core Training for new staff and new programs. Congratulations to the more than 10 programs and 150 staff members from across Maryland that were able to complete the training!
Future Core Trainings are in development! Stay tuned to find out more!
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Pre-recorded Trainings
MaHRTI has several pre-recorded trainings on our site. The trainings are available 24/7 and can be completed at your own pace. The topics include the following:
- Motivational Interviewing for People Who Use Drugs
- Safer Injection and Basic Wound Care
- De-Escalation and Conflict Management
- Maryland Overdose Response Program Training of Trainers
- Syringe Services Program Core Training Opening Session 12/8/2020
- Syringe Services Program Core Training Closing Session 12/16/2020
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Motivational Interviewing – February 25, 9am-12pm
Motivational interviewing is a coaching method that helps people resolve ambivalent feelings and insecurities to find the internal motivation they need to change their behavior.
In this person-centered training, MaHRTI Coordinator Sal Corbin will explore motivational interviewing as a collaborative, goal-oriented method of communication, paying particular attention to the use of language to empower positive life changes in program participants, particularly ones who are ambivalent.
Priority registration is open for Syringe Service Programs, Overdose Response Programs, and ACCESS grantees! Space is limited, register today!
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Leadership Series
The MaHRTI Leadership series is a sequence of workshops geared towards personal and professional development of staff in any service capacity. Workshops focus on self-awareness, other awareness, and group dynamics that promote more effective service and delivery. Workshops directly impact staff balance between managing tasks and managing others.
Save the date! Registration links coming soon!
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Personality and Communication – Friday, March 12, 10am-12pm
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Conflict Transformation – Friday, March 26, 10am-12pm
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Team Building and Group Dynamics – Friday April 9, 10am-12pm
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Self Care to Community Care – Friday April 23, 10am-12pm
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Drug Checking – Wednesday March 31, 10am-12pm
As contamination and misrepresentation of drugs continues to be a problem, drug checking allows people who use drugs to help identify the substance they intend on taking and therefore help reduce harms associated with consuming an unknown substance.
With several years of experience in drug checking and teaching science, MaHRTI Coordinator Rae Elkasabany will discuss the various tools, how they work, interpreting results, best practices, and messaging.
Save the date! Registration link coming soon!
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Need Technical Assistance? We can help! |
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Discover Black Trailblazers Who Shaped Behavioral Health Care in Baltimore
To honor Black History Month, we celebrate two Black leaders who have made significant contributions to our community and to behavioral health care in Baltimore.
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William Miller, Sr - Founder of Bmore POWER
William Miller, Sr was a dedicated harm reductionist, activist and founder of Bmore POWER. A firm believer in the philosophy of ‘nothing about us without us’, Will dedicated his life to building Baltimore’s peer-led harm reduction movement. He helped found Bmore POWER to build power among people with lived experience with drug use to save lives from overdose and reduce harm in their communities. He used his relationships to ensure peers not only had a seat at the table but were recognized as experts and leaders in the field.
Will was also an active advocate and grassroots community activist with the BRIDGES Coalition, Communities United and other organizations. He was driven by love for his community to fight systems of oppression and injustice. He regularly testified in Annapolis on issues related to harm reduction, civil rights and human rights. He wasn’t afraid to speak truth to power and did so with such wisdom, conviction and compassion that he was incredibly effective at changing hearts and minds.
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COVID Resources
Vaccine Information
Harm Reduction Supplies
Request supplies from MDH CHRS by filling out this form
ACCESS is a centralized platform for local health departments and non-profit organizations to
access resources made available by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to improve health
outcomes among people who use drugs. ACCESS resources currently available at no cost through
this form include intramuscular injectable naloxone, Narcan nasal spray, and fentanyl test
strips.
Naloxone Access
Additional Resources
Have a resource you would like us to share? Need something you don't see here? Let us know! Email us at mahrti@bhsbaltimore.org
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ACCESS 2021: Maryland Harm Reduction Conference - August 5, 2021
The Maryland Department of Health’s Center for Harm Reduction Services is excited to collaborate with both local and national thought leaders, community based organizations and advocates within the community of people who use drugs, to create a state harm reduction conference. Through various workshops, seminars and panel discussions, the conference will highlight the collective efforts across the state towards ending the opioid crisis.
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There are a number of ways for you to attend. This conference will be a hybrid event, featuring engaging in-person and virtual sessions. Planning ahead for safety concerns this event will be held completely virtual if group meetings are not possible. In any event, you will not want to miss the opportunity to attend this conference.
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Upcoming Harm Reduction Collaborative Calls
This schedule is tentative and subject to change. Updates will be announced by the Maryland Department of Health Center for Harm Reduction Services.
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Friday March 5, 10am-12pm – Standing
Advisory Committee Meeting
- Syringe Services Programs
- Open to the public
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Thursday March 11, 2pm-2:30pm – Harm
Reduction Collaborative Call
- Overdose Response Programs
- Syringe Services Programs
- ACCESS grantees
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Maryland Harm Reduction Action Network
The Maryland Harm Reduction Action Network (MHRAN) meets virtually each month, and offers opportunities to network with other harm reductionists in the area to discuss local and statewide needs. Please reach out to Owen@BaltimoreHarmReduction.org to ask about the next meeting.
For more information on the MHRAN, visit their website!
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BRIDGES Coalition
BRIDGES is an advocacy coalition working to end overdose and criminalization by promoting safe spaces, dignity, health, and justice for people who use drugs.
Interested in becoming a part of BRIDGES? Fill out the form at the bottom of their website!
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Harm Reduction Advocacy Day - March 17 & March 18, 2021
Join the Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition for the fourth annual Harm Reduction Advocacy Days! This year, HRAD will be held virtually over two days: Wed 3/17 from 1pm-4pm & Thurs 3/18 from 10am-1pm.
This event will include policy advocacy and community organizing workshops, as well as conversations with policymakers dedicated to harm reduction and police reform.
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Have something you want to share? We want to center you and your voices!
In doing this work, it can be so easy to be weighed down by all of the challenges and pain that comes with the territory. We want to make sure to highlight the good things as well!
What is something exciting that's going on in your program? Do you have a touching story? Did you come across some resources that you found helpful? Or did you find something fun that you want to share?
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Maryland Policy Updates
General Assembly session began on January 19. There are several bills that support harm reduction interventions and promote inclusion of people who use drugs.
All hearings are being conducted virtually. You can watch the hearings using the links below.
Overdose and Infectious Disease Prevention Services Program - SB 279/HB 396
This bill authorizes a “community-based organization” (CBO) to establish an Overdose and Infectious Disease Prevention Services Program. A program must provide a supervised location where drug users can consume pre-obtained drugs, as well as receive other services, education, and referrals. CBOs must receive approval from the Maryland Department of Health in consultation with the local health department. The Maryland Department of Health may not approve more than 6 programs and they must be distributed evenly among urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State. The Senate bill hearing was January 26th in the Finance Committee. The House Bill hearing is scheduled for March 11th at 1:30 pm in the Health and Government Operations Committee.
House Bill 396, March 11 (read)
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Criminal Law- Drug Paraphernalia for Administration- Decriminalization - SB 420/HB 372
This bill would decriminalize possession of items that can be used to inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise consume a controlled dangerous substance. The Senate Bill hearing was held on February 11th in the Judicial Proceedings Committee. The House Bill hearing was held on January 19th in the Judiciary Committee.
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Criminal Procedure- Medical Emergency- Immunity - HB 212 (Good Samaritan Law)
In 2014, Maryland enacted a Good Samaritan law to encourage people to call for help when someone is facing a medical emergency due to drugs or alcohol. HB 212 will build upon that existing law by:
- clarifying that the victim of the overdose or medical emergency is provided the same immunity from arrest, charge or prosecution as the person calling for help
- expanding the offenses that people are immune from to include all misdemeanor offenses and possession with intent to distribute (not volume or king pin dealing) and;
- prohibit a person from being detained or prosecuted in connection with an outstanding warrant of another nonviolent crime if the only reason the police are involved is because of someone calling to save someone’s life.
The bill hearing was held on 1/27 in the Judiciary Committee.
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Mamdani, et al, Harm Reduction Journal, 2021
Peers are one of the most important aspects of harm reduction programs. Their lived/living experience allows them to build safe spaces with stronger relationships with program participants that can help reduce risky practices such as sharing drug use supplies and unsafe sex practices. But what about peer health?
Many studies have shown that peers often experience the same oppression that participants face, including financial insecurity, lack of respect and recognition, housing challenges, inability to access resources and services for themselves and others, and constant exposure to death and trauma. These stressors are further compounded by the blurred boundaries between professional and personal lives.
This research group based in British Columbia, created the Peer-2-Peer Project, designed to identify and implement support for and by peer workers. They examined how these stressors are amplified due to COVID-19, where overdose deaths have reached an all-time high. How can these stressors be effectively addressed to create safe spaces for peers as well?
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Harm Reduction Journal publishes research focusing on the prevalent patterns of psychoactive drug use, the public policies meant to control them, and the search for effective methods of reducing the adverse medical, public health, and social consequences associated with both drugs and drug policies.
All articles published by Harm Reduction Journal are made freely and permanently accessible online immediately upon publication, without subscription charges or registration barriers. To find out more or read articles, visit their website.
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Our staff has grown! Welcome, Sal and Rae!
Meet the MaHRTI team. Each month, we will share some of our favorite things, including movies, books, recipes, and much more.
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Emily Heinlein - Director of Public Health Strategic Initiatives
Emily has had the honor of being part of MaHRTI’s founding and growth over the past three years. Her work at BHSB also includes supporting Bmore POWER, which provides outreach and education to support the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs. She’s worked in community public health for fifteen years and aims to advance health and social justice through her work.
Emily holds a master’s degree in public health and bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and sociology. She likes to plunk chords on the piano with her left hand and sing with gusto.
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Miera Corey - MaHRTI Coordinator
Miera Corey graduated from Morgan State University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She has six years of experience with the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, The Lighthouse Studies at PEER Point; a harm reduction research program focused on Baltimore City residents with HIV/STD high-risk behaviors. Miera worked as the Evaluation Coordinator for Wraparound, Systems of Care, and National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative programs at The Institute before joining Behavioral Health System Baltimore as the Maryland Harm Reduction Training Institute Coordinator.
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Sal Corbin - MaHRTI Coordinator
Sal Corbin worked for 15 years in academia as a Psychology Professor before transitioning to nonprofit work. He has done workforce development training and program management and is now a Training Coordinator for the Maryland Harm Reduction Institute. His vision is to help others build and maintain healthy relationships, with conflict transformation as the primary focus. His extensive background in leadership facilitation supports his efforts to keep showing up and sharing.
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Rae Elkasabany - MaHRTI Coordinator
Rae Elkasabany graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor's degree in Biology and Spanish. She has six years experience working in direct outreach harm reduction, drug policy reform advocacy, and harm reduction education through the public health nonprofit DanceSafe. Rae has also worked as a science educator for over seven years before joining the Maryland Harm Reduction Training Institute in 2020. Her favorite harm reduction topics to discuss are drug pharmacology and drug checking. When Rae isn't talking harm reduction, she enjoys fire performing with a hoop and various other props, crocheting, everything cats, and deciding the next shade of purple to die her hair.
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Need Technical Assistance? We can help! |
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