United to Move Forward: Harm Reduction Approaches to Tough Social Problems

The fabric of Hawai‘i is threatened by a host of interrelated social problems including mental health, drug misuse, communicable diseases, poverty, homelessness, and the over-reliance on incarceration. Youth, women, Native Hawaiians, and sexual minorities are impacted in unique ways. To address these tough social issues, a collaboration of service providers, community organizations, and concerned citizens will convene to discuss ways of developing more holistic and effective interventions. Pūpūkahi I Holomua ("United to Move Forward"), a two-day interactive conference, will be held to discuss best practices, evidence-based programs, and cutting edge ideas to tackle these issues in culturally-appropriate and more effective ways. The program will tap into the expertise of practitioners in Hawai‘i, the mainland and from abroad who cultivate a non-judgmental, inclusive and incrementalist approach. Harm Reduction is a philosophy and set of strategies for working with individuals engaged in potentially harmful behaviors. The main objective is to reduce the potential dangers and health risks associated with such behaviors, even for those who are not willing or able to completely stop. Harm reduction used a non-judgmental, holistic and individualized approach to support incremental change and increase the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Conference content areas include: Criminal Justice/ Corrections Housing/Homelessness Communicable Diseases Mental and Physical Health Harm Reduction Policy and Practice Substance Use Cultural Competency For details and registration information, see http://home.hawaii.rr.com/pupukahi/.