Harm Reduction & Outreach Specialist

This comprehensive training program prepares Harm Reduction & Outreach Specialists to work safely and effectively in homeless camps, shelters, crisis centers, police stations, rehabilitation facilities, and other high-need environments throughout Stanislaus County, California. The program is organized into 5 essential parts that build your knowledge and skills systematically: PART 1 introduces Help Is Hope Foundation's mission—"Hope Is Not A Luxury, It Is A Lifeline"—and covers the Street Smart Supplies program, including how to discuss and distribute Narcan/Naloxone, fentanyl testing strips, condoms and lube, HIV testing information, pregnancy tests, weed test kits, first aid kits, and stop smoking kits. You'll learn who we serve and where outreach happens. PART 2 covers Harm Reduction Fundamentals, teaching you the philosophy and core principles including person-first language, meeting people where they are, stages of change awareness, pragmatism, humanism, autonomy, and why harm reduction saves lives. PART 3 focuses on Trauma-Informed Care, exploring the 4 R's—Realize, Recognize, Respond, and Resist Re-traumatization—so you can create safety and avoid causing additional harm. PART 4 develops your Practical Outreach Skills, from preparation and approaching people safely to active listening, de-escalation, working with intoxication, and respecting boundaries. PART 5 addresses Ethics, Boundaries, Documentation, and Self-Care, ensuring you maintain confidentiality, professional boundaries, proper documentation practices, and protect yourself from vicarious trauma. This training embodies our guiding belief: "You are not your worst day, your hardest season, or your biggest mistake—there is still a future with your name on it, and we're here to help you reach it."