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, 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."