Harm Reduction
Many health and human service providers use harm reduction strategies to support people with substance use challenges. The goal of harm reduction is to reduce the negative consequences of substance use while supporting people to make changes in their lives.
Harm reduction involves meeting people where they are and supporting them in making and sustaining changes in behaviors and identifying and attaining goals. Harm reduction utilizes a wide range of techniques including safer use, managed use, and abstinence. Harm reduction strategies reduce risk of illness, injury, and death.
At C4, we put people first. Person-centered services and strategies like harm reduction are central to who we are and how we work. Our expert trainers can support you in increasing harm reduction and other person-centered strategies and skills in your agency or program.
As a result of lived experience, many of our trainers bring first-hand knowledge about receiving and delivering services. More than 45% of our staff is in recovery from substance use and mental health disorders, homelessness, incarceration, and trauma. Many more are family members and allies of people in recovery as well as clinicians, practitioners, and leaders with on-the-ground experience designing and delivering services. We are passionate about making seats at the table for people with lived experience and centering this expertise in all we do—both as the people most impacted by service systems and as the sources of the wisdom, perspective, and inspiration that drive system transformation.
We Can Help You
- Understand theories of behavior change and harm reduction
- Describe the philosophy, principles, and practices of harm reduction
- Explain the benefits of harm reduction approaches both for individuals and communities
- Understand how to put a harm reduction approach into action
- Identify high-risk behaviors and corresponding harm reduction strategies
- Evaluate how well your organization currently integrates harm reduction principles and practices
- Identify harm reduction strategies to reduce risk of HIV transmission, viral hepatitis, and other infectious diseases
- Employ key discussion points and motivational strategies for engaging clients on prevention, testing, and treatment of infectious diseases, HIV, and viral hepatitis
- Partner with your organization to create a Harm Reduction program inventory
Learn more about partnering with us.
Our Experts
“A lot of vital information was given that I can pass on to my clients and could possibly save a life." -Training Participant
"I did not believe in the Harm Reduction philosophy, but this training changed my perspective, and now I want to advocate for it in my work! The trainers were compassionate and excellent educators. I loved their honesty and that they shared their history and success in recovery. They are great role models." -Praxis Harm Reduction training participant
Example of Our Work
Implementing Harm Reduction Approaches
The City of Boston Harm Reduction Toolkit provides best practices for integrating harm reduction into your work and communities while equipping you with the tools to get started. This toolkit was developed to build a culture of harm reduction in Boston. It contains information helpful to folks from all over about applying the principles and practices of harm reduction, involving the community, and designing, delivering, and evaluating harm reduction services. The toolkit was developed by the Boston Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services in partnership with RIZE Massachusetts and C4 Innovations.
Learn More
- Essentials of Person-Centered Case Management: online course starts May 7, 2024
- Facilitating Post-Traumatic Growth and Recovery: online course starts June 26, 2024
- Equity in Action: Trauma-Informed Supervision: online course starts October 23, 2024
- Equity and Inclusion: Navigating Systemic Marginalization: online course starts November 14, 2024
- Boston Harm Reduction Toolkit by the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services in partnership with RIZE Massachusetts and C4 Innovations
- Harm Reduction for MA Addiction Professionals
- Person-Centered Strategies
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Motivational Interviewing
- Critical Time Intervention
Learn more about our expertise and training and technical assistance approaches and offerings.