Program Spotlight: Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition
We <3 syringe access programs!
We’re doing some spotlighting over the next few weeks of California syringe service programs. Tell us your favs!
**CHRI Program Spotlight: Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition**
Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition is a syringe services program in El Dorado County, the first program of its kind in the region. SHRC was awarded CHRI funding last year and has been ramping up their services including syringe litter clean-up, distribution of safer drug use supplies like fentanyl test strips, naloxone, wound care kits, PPE and sterile syringes. SHRC provides harm reduction training and referrals to a network of community health services and care.
"I grew up in a small farming community in central Indiana, so though I’ve lived in several large cities since leaving, I still value and respect rural communities like those that we serve in El Dorado County, California. Through an overabundance of privilege, and some hard work, I earned a PhD in Immunology. Now I get to leverage my scientific background to provide and promote evidence-based harm reduction principles and services. I am filled with gratitude and fortune each day for these opportunities. Everyone with Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition has lost friends and family to the negative outcomes of substance abuse and the inequalities that affected their ability to access efficacious healthcare and harm reduction services. Most of us have lived experience struggling to access those services. Through Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition, we get to deliver lifesaving harm reduction services to keep our community of fellow people who use drugs safe and healthy. Even though our county is rural and conservative, through persistence and patience, we are seeing more and more community buy in. We are excited begin expanding our services to more people through regular mobile services, and then to provide a growing suite of healthcare options, such and hepatitis C screening and low barrier treatment for opioid use disorder. Mentorship from National Harm Reduction Coalition has been an essential force, helping to educate, guide and support us as we move forward, struggle and succeed. Our future feels so bright and exciting that sometimes we have to slow down to enjoy our present." -David Jay, SHRC Exec Director
Learn more about Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition: www.shrcoalition.org
Learn more about CHRI funding: https://harmreduction.org/.../california-harm-reduction.../
