Online Course: Client Centered Behavior Change: Using a Harm Reduction Approach

Course facts:

Dates:

Spring 2017: Thursdays, March 23-April 20

Time: 2:00-3:15 pm ET

Subject: Harm Reduction

Practice Level: Beginner, Intermediate

CE credits:

ASWB: 10 hours 

NAADAC: 10 hours 

NBCC: 6 hours

Course type: Online course

75 minutes weekly live webcast

roughly 35 minutes of weekly home study activities

Covered topics: Harm reduction, behavior change theory, Motivational Interviewing, trauma-informed care, risk assessments

Who should take this course:

• Agencies seeking to incorporate evidence-based practices into their programs
• Case managers, program directors, clinicians, supervisors, peer specialists, outreach workers, and volunteer program coordinators
• Health, behavioral health, and social service practitioners 

Learning objectives:

• Support clients to identify and attain their own goals
• Identify and implement strategies to help clients reduce risks associated with sexual behavior and/or substance use
• Gain tools to conduct comprehensive risk assessments
• Conduct intentional, explicit, and appropriate conversations with clients about sexual and drug use behavior and risk
• Identify tools to support themselves to continue the work despite the challenges of working with marginalized populations

WEEKLY AGENDA

• Week 1: Course Introduction and Overview of Behavior Change Theory:  Discusses the history and philosophy of Harm Reduction, as well as its criticism and evidence. Also introduces Stages of Change and Motivational Interviewing approaches. 
• Week 2: Harm Reduction and Substance Use: Discusses the risks associated with substance use, the basics of substance use and the brain, and how to reduce substance use risk and elicit change. 
• Week 3: Harm Reduction and Sexual Risk: Discusses the risks associated with sexual behaviors, the challenges of discussing sex with the people served by programs, and how to reduce sexual risk and elicit change. 
• Week 4: Implementing Harm Reduction Models: Participants will have the opportunity to look concretely at how to implement Harm Reduction programming and important considerations for how to operationalize Harm Reduction with be discussed. 
• Week 5: Application of Harm Reduction and Self-Care Strategies: Participants will have the opportunity to apply Harm Reduction approaches to scenarios. Additionally, self-care strategies will be discussed.