Next Steps
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About the Webinar
During the past 5 years peers, or people with lived and living experience of drug use, have been at the frontlines of the overdose and drug poisoning epidemic. At a time when public service is stepping down, peers are stepping up to save lives and support their communities. And they do this without any employment protections, support, or recognition of their positions as frontline responders. So how can community organizations equitably support and empower them to lead and continue their vital work?
In this webinar, presenters from the Peer2Peer Project (a project developed by the BC Center for Disease Control (BCCDC), SOLID Outreach, RainCity Housing) and BEAP: Business Engagement Ambassadors Project (developed by Matsqui-Abbotsford Impact Society & Abbotsford Drug War Survivors) shared the components of their successful peer-led initiatives, how organizations can support peers, and why peer leadership should be considered the first and foremost essential practice for overdose and drug poisoning prevention and response.
The Peer2Peer project aims to identify, implement, and evaluate peer-led support interventions for peers/experiential workers in overdose response settings. Experiential workers, or peer workers with lived/living experience, are important service providers that play a crucial role in supporting individuals who use substances and deserve access to occupational mental health supports similar to those provided to other healthcare providers and first responders.
Business Engagement Ambassadors Project (BEAP)
BEAP aims to enhance the cleanliness, safety and harmony of their communities and provide meaningful opportunities for members of the street community to contribute to something positive in a way that will be recognized and appreciated. Since Summer 2018, members have been meeting with the City of Abbotsford, Fraser Health Authority, homeowners and businesses and business associations within Abbotsford to make this happen.
Organizations Involved
Matsqui-Abbotsford IMPACT Society
Serving the communities of Abbotsford and Mission since 1988, IMPACT currently supports four main programs: Counselling aimed at addressing life challenges that have gotten tangled up in substance use for[…]
SOLID Outreach
SOLID is a non-profit organization that provides peer-based health education and support services to reduce the harms associated with drug use in Victoria. Their mandate is to provide accessible pathways[…]
RainCity Housing
A home for every person. It’s that simple. And that complex. For more than three decades RainCity Housing has put government funds and generous donor dollars to good use to[…]
British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) provides health promotion and prevention services, analytical and policy support to government and health authorities, and diagnostic and treatment services to reduce communicable[…]