2004/2005 Task Groups

Education:

Priority Areas

• Build and strengthen peer networks
• Long term public awareness campaign
• Training to peers and service providers

Accomplishments

• Harm Reduction Special Collection established at Addictions Foundation of Manitoba William Potoroka Library
• Secured funding and partnership with Sexuality Education Resource Centre Brandon to develop a Youth Healthy Living Resource – Addressing the Future, based on an Alberta resource. The Address Books will be distributed to youth in Manitoba schools and community agencies and will include a wide range of harm reduction and health promotion information.
• Developed a Harm Reduction Train the Trainers proposal with the goal of training harm reduction facilitators able to deliver workshops in the principles and practice of harm reduction to service providers.

---

Support/Basic Needs:

Priority Areas

• Easy access to basic needs resources.

• Long term public awareness campaigns.

• Harm reduction policy and practice incorporated into emergency and public housing.

Accomplishments

• Plan in progress to include harm reduction information in Manitoba Community Contact Resource Guide.

• Planned and implemented “A Hard Night Out” event. On October 21, 2004 , 14 community leaders and media spent one night on the street in the company of a field guide. They were offered an opportunity to learn from the experiences of street involved individuals. (link to video)

---

Policy:

Priority Areas

• Develop a Harm Reduction Policy Template.

• Long term public awareness campaign.

• Build and strengthen communication network.

Accomplishments

• Has developed a generic harm reduction template. Agencies and organizations wishing to implement a harm reduction policy are able to use this template as a tool.

• The task group will assist organizations in adopting the finalized template and encourage its implementation.

---

Outreach:

Priority Areas

• Increase access to services
• Increase access to the tools of harm reduction.  

Accomplishments

• Partnership with materials distribution agency to improve access and purchasing power for condoms. Many agencies are taking advantage of this to purchase condoms for distribution within their agencies.
• Advocacy with Winnipeg Regional Health Authority to improve street based health services for underserved populations.
• Established partnership with Street Outreach Network to improve communication and information sharing.

---

Coordinating Committee:

Priority Areas

• Develop communication mechanism between task groups and all network members.
• Support the work of the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network Consultant.

Accomplishments

• Monthly network bulletins.
• Public awareness and media strategy in place to improve the networks public profile.
• Work of consultant is fully supported by the network co-chairs and task group leaders.