Trainings/Workshops: Peers, Volunteers, & Harm Reduction Workers

05.11.25 07:56 AM - Comment(s) - By Annastasia Rose Beal

Trainings & Workshops for Peers, Volunteers, & Harm Reduction Workers
For frontline outreach workers, peer navigators, and volunteer teams delivering direct support.

Peers are the heart of harm reduction. These trainings are designed for frontline outreach workers, peer navigators, volunteers, and lived-experience leaders who deliver direct support in community settings, on the street, or inside events. Whether new to outreach or seasoned in the field, participants gain practical tools to stay safe, grounded, and effective.

Each workshop builds confidence in providing compassionate, person-centered care while maintaining strong boundaries and emotional resilience. Through real-world examples and guided role-plays, peers learn how to de-escalate tense situations, navigate resource linkage, and communicate with authenticity and respect.

Our sessions emphasize the power of lived experience, showing how empathy and relatability can transform outreach outcomes. Trainings can be held virtually or in person, and are ideal for team onboarding, volunteer orientations, and continuing education for established harm-reduction staff.

Available Trainings & Workshops:

Peer Support & Education: Grounding, Listening, and Lived Experience

Overview: Strengthens the interpersonal and emotional skills needed to provide effective, non-judgmental support rooted in empathy and lived experience.
Suggested Duration: 45 to 60 minutes
Includes:

Foundations of peer support and active listening
Grounding and emotional regulation during high-stress interactions
Applying lived experience ethically and intentionally
Identifying when and how to escalate to professional or clinical support
Building rapport while maintaining safety and boundaries

Trip Sitting 101

Overview: Teaches peers how to provide calm, supportive presence to individuals experiencing intense psychedelic or emotional states at events or in the community.
Suggested Duration: 1 hour
Includes:

Understanding the basics of psychedelic experiences and risk factors
Creating safe, low-stimulus environments
Verbal reassurance and non-directive support
Recognizing medical red flags and when to involve medical or security staff
Post-experience integration and emotional aftercare

Meeting People Where They Are: Street Outreach for Beginners

Overview: An introduction to trauma-informed street outreach emphasizing safety, rapport-building, and resource navigation for unhoused or high-risk populations.
Suggested Duration: 45 to 60 minutes
Includes:

Street outreach safety protocols and situational awareness
How to initiate conversations respectfully in diverse environments
Needs assessment and referral pathways
Distribution of harm-reduction supplies and documentation basics
Self-care and debriefing after fieldwork

Boundaries and Burnout in Peer Work

Overview: Addresses compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout prevention strategies for individuals engaged in emotionally demanding outreach work.
Suggested Duration: 30 to 45 minutes
Includes:

Recognizing early signs of burnout and stress overload
Techniques for emotional boundary-setting
Creating sustainable work habits and team support systems
Peer check-ins and supervision as protective factors
Guided exercises for grounding and recovery

From Overdose to Opportunity: Post-Crisis Peer Engagement

Overview: Focuses on post-overdose outreach and how peers can transform crisis moments into pathways toward stability and care.
Suggested Duration: 30 minutes
Includes:

Trauma-informed follow-up after overdose reversals
Re-engaging individuals with compassion and respect
Warm handoffs to treatment, housing, or health services
Supporting loved ones or bystanders affected by overdose events
Documenting outcomes and maintaining confidentiality

Mobile Harm Reduction: Safety on Onewheels and in the Field

Overview: Tailored for mobile outreach teams using Onewheels, e-bikes, or other personal electric vehicles to reach individuals in hard-to-access areas.
Suggested Duration: 30 to 45 minutes
Includes:

Field safety and mobility planning for PEV outreach
Equipment management and supply transport systems
Maintaining communication and visibility during solo routes
Rapid response and coordination with stationary teams
Environmental risk awareness (traffic, terrain, weather)

Peer Leadership in Action: Supervising Volunteers with Compassion and Clarity

Overview: Builds supervisory and leadership skills for lead peers, coordinators, and volunteer managers overseeing harm-reduction teams.
Suggested Duration: 1 hour
Includes:

Leadership styles rooted in empathy and accountability
Delivering feedback and performance coaching
Maintaining equitable workloads and clear communication
Conflict resolution and mediation strategies
Creating inclusive, values-based team culture

The Language of Care: Stigma Reduction in Every Interaction

Overview: Helps peers develop communication habits that reduce stigma, build trust, and promote dignity in all outreach settings.
Suggested Duration: 30 to 45 minutes
Includes:

Understanding how language influences perception and engagement
Shifting from judgmental to person-first phrasing
Modeling non-stigmatizing dialogue within outreach teams
Practicing empathy and reflective listening in challenging situations
Reinforcing community trust through consistent, compassionate communication

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