New York Harm Reduction Educators (NYHRE) UPRISE Peer Training Program Uniting Peers for the Rights of Injectors and Sex Workers Everywhere 9 th National Harm Reduction Conference November 16, 2012

NYHRE is the largest syringe exchange program on the east coast and provides integrated health and social services to active and former substance users and sex workers in East Harlem and the South Bronx. Our participants are some of the most marginalized & stigmatized individuals in our society. They suffer unemployment, unstable housing, high incarceration rates and a higher than average incidence of negative health issues. Our participants are male, female and transgender adults, mostly people of color: 67% Latino/a; 25% African American; 5% Caucasian.

UPRISE is both a return to NYHRE’s activist roots and a next step in addressing community need through peer-based efforts. UPRISE Peers are individuals who belong(ed) to social networks of substance users and sex workers. They are able to easily engage other individuals within these social networks, provide them with information and help them to live healthier and more stable lives.

UPRISE works with participants in a way that respects and honors their autonomy and individuality while also creating a very real foundation for self-empowerment and self-efficacy. UPRISE provides the opportunity to educate and empower substance users and sex workers to be health educators in addition to activists and advocates—responding to inequities in public benefits administration, homelessness and affordable housing provision, substance use treatment, and the criminal justice process.

1) To provide opportunities for our participants to learn comprehensive information about harm reduction, public health, and community advocacy and outreach. 2) To help our participants and communities gain the knowledge and experience to effectively participate in the democratic political process in order to affect change in the areas that are important to them. 3) To create formal leadership positions from which UPRISE Peers can continue their community advocacy and outreach work with and outside of NYHRE.

NYHRE participants who have received services for at least 3 months prior to applying. Includes: participation with the syringe exchange program, attendance of groups, attendance of political events, use of harm reduction counseling or mental health services, use of acupuncture services, or participation in structured interventions. Interviews are conducted with 20 applicants – 10 applicants are selected for the upcoming Cycle.

Peer Training and Education Participation in 15-week, 30-session workshops Pre-test & post-test with passing score of 80% or higher 6-month Field Practicum UPRISE Peers work approximately 10 hours a week (2-3 shifts/week) during practicum, and are compensated with a stipend of $7 per hour & unlimited Metro card. UPRISE Peers may utilize syringe exchange services, harm reduction counseling & mental health services, and all other NYHRE services throughout training program.

Workshops: Held bi-annually on Tuesdays, from 10am to 5pm for 15 weeks. Up to three sessions can be missed, provided the peer trainee take the initiative to make them up before the post-test is administered.

Workshop Topics:  Orientation, paper work, pre-test, assessment 1  Harm Reduction  Drugs 101  Safer Injection Use  Opioid Overdose Response/prevention and Naloxone Administration  Buprenorphine  Drug Treatment & Drug Use Management

Workshop Topics:  Sex Positive Sexual Health and Anatomy  Safer Sex and STIs  HIV—History, Risk & Prevention; Treatment & Resources  Hepatitis C—Risk and Prevention, Symptoms, Progression and Treatment  Sex Work  Working with LGBQT participants

Workshop Topics:  Legislative Process; Testimony/Presentation  Peer & Participant Action; Public Speaking  Know Your Rights  Social Determinants & Health  De-Escalation  Basic Referrals and Paperwork

Workshop Topics:  Working as a Peer  Needlestick, Biohazard Materials, and SEP paperwork  Social Movement and Organizing  Domestic Violence, Physical & Sexual Abuse  Test Review  Supervised Street Site Outreach  Post-test; assessment 2; workshop evaluation

Field Practicum Activities:  Working with SEP staff on the mobile sites  Conducting street-based outreach and PDSE services  Participating in community building and organizing efforts  Providing program support to Harm Reduction Counseling team  Attending bi-monthly peer group meetings  Participating in monthly individual supervision sessions  Participating in monthly NYC Peer Network meetings

Guest presenters: VOCAL-NY, Bronx Defenders, the NYC Peer Network, the Harm Reduction Coalition, Positive Health Project, Rainbow Coalition, and other community organizations. Field Practicum support: UPRISE Peers are scheduled to work with VOCAL on a monthly basis to get involved in efforts to affect change in legislative policies.

 Level of participation in workshops  Completion of supervised Field Practicum shifts  Level of participation in community organizing and outreach activities  Completion additional community trainings or beginning further education  Level of additional responsibility the Peer trainees undertake  Level of participant satisfaction in the program  Improved self-advocacy skills & increased connection to community at the end of Field Practicum

UPRISE Cycles 1-5 Total of applicants335 Total of peers enrolled 41 Total of peers completed workshop 29* Total of peers completed practicum 24* *Cycle 5 is not included in these numbers [On week 5 of workshops]

Community Organizing & Outreach 2012  911 Good Samaritan Law meetings, press conferences, and survey development  National People Action Conference in Washington D.C. (3 days)  Public Health rallies at City Hall NYC  PDSE Conference

Community Organizing & Outreach 2012 (cont.)  VOCAL March Against Congressman Grimm  International Overdose Awareness Day  Occupy Wall Street Anniversary/Robin Hood Tax March  Rally & lobbying to Support the Community Safety Act

Community Trainings 2012  Understanding Drug-Related Stigma HRC  HIV 101 NYC DOHMH T-Tap Program  Syringe Access Services & Engaging with Law Enforcement HRC  Mental Health Wellness: Reintegration of LGBT With Histories of Incarceration HRC  2012 Statewide Viral Hepatitis Conference NY State DOH  Hepatitis C Prevention: Beyond the Basics HRC  HIV Testing Module 1&2 Course NYC DOHMH T-Tap Program

Community Trainings 2012 (cont.)  Motivational Interviewing 201 HRC  Delivering HIV Positive Test Results NYC DOHMH T- Tap Program  Understanding Viral Hepatitis A,B & C NYC DOHMH T- Tap Program  Incorporating Customer Service into HIV Prevention HRC  Opioid Overdose Prevention HRC  Self-care, Boundaries and Preventing Burnout HRC

Cycle 3 & 4 Workshop Evaluations [n=12] Overall rating for the UPRISE workshops [1-10] 9.65 Did the training provide you with a better understanding of harm reduction? 100% YES Do you feel that the training improved your ability to provide comprehensive and non-judgmental services to drug users and sex workers? 100% YES

UPRISE is the only Harm Reduction Peer program focusing on both health education & participant action as a comprehensive training curriculum UPRISE has been used as a template for NYCDOH peer network meetings & trainings UPRISE is well-positioned to lead discussions about Peer certification efforts with upcoming health care reform requirements

1 UPRISE Peer is now NYHRE Peer & Community Development Associate 4 UPRISE Peers are now NYHRE Peer Harm Reduction Counselors 1 UPRISE Peer is now NYHRE Peer SEP Educator 1 UPRISE Peer is now NYHRE Peer Data Assistant 2 UPRISE Peers are now NYHRE Front Desk Assistants 1 UPRISE Peer is now NYHRE Office Maintenance Assistant 1 UPRISE Peer is now working with VOCAL-NY 1 UPRISE Peer is now working in Puerto Rico