Harm Reduction Coalition Meeting Minutes Monday Oct 20, 2014

Harm Reduction Coalition Meeting Minutes Monday Oct 20, 2014

Meeting Date: Monday October 20, 2014 at ASYR (Addiction Service York Region)
Chairs: Radha Bhardwaj; Rubaiyat Karim
Regrets: Haran Vijayanathan, Stefania Bonanno, Jehan Chaudhry, Joanne Mundy
Present: Alex Cheng, Brent MacKinnon, Susan Lynn Dobson, Vibhuti Mehra, Ashley Leggett, Ashley Nicholls, Arthi Jayapaul,
Ann Ramkay, Rubaiyat Karim, Deborah Waddington, Tim Greenwood, Shantell Ricketts, Radha Bhardwaj
Minute Taker: Tim Greenwood
Topic
Reviewed Minutes of
September 15 meeting

Discussion
Noted fact that workloads for chairs amended to reflect 10 or more
hours per month

Review of revised
workplan

The revised workplan was put forward. Reflects need to get clear
on terms of reference before moving forward. Also includes
upcoming collaborative project with York U which will provide
direction for future. Outreach will be delayed until later in
year/new year. Discussed intent to strive to see Harm Reduction
properly understood and a shared vision and practice. Also
question of how risk reduction approach fits in Police use this
language and police are important player in Harm Reduciton
equation.
York U students are sending out Survey through Survey Monkey
and all members need to respond within week as they will compile
and analyze results soon after. Purpose to determine goals and
missions of members in relation to Harm Reduction to help us plan
how to move forward. Discussion of whether students doing
environmental scan or just literature review of relevant local
material on HR. It was noted there were some good sources of
local information including info from Krasman Centre, Photo
Voice project on homelessness Hidden in Plain Sight. Canadian
Harm Reduction website has great deal of information. Brent

Update on York
University
Collaboration
(Rubaiyat Karim)

Action
Minutes approved (Brent
pointed out that we work
on consensus so it was
consensus approval)
Accept revised workplan
(Concensus)
(Will need some
wordsmithing with
regard to terms such as
mental health

Add clearly to
deliverables in contract
in the Project Charter that
we want permission to
disseminate resulting
documentation to a wider
audience while attributing
credit.

Timelines

Timelines are on
workplan

Have survey to
complete in Nov
We meet to hear
students
analysis, etc Nov
26

Making Connections
Workshop Radha an
Rubaiyat leading
workshop
Made in York Region
Community Drug
Strategy meeting Tues
Nov 25
Tim Greenwood

Review of Terms of
Reference

Harm Reduction Coalition Meeting Minutes Monday Oct 20, 2014

shared about SHOUT document. Discussed how do we get the
voices of those with lived experience included and how
consent can be long process. Also want to ensure that the
coalition can use the results afterwards
Radha and Rubaiyat shared that they will be co-facilitating a full
Radha and Rubaiyat will
day workshop called Making Connections for VAW staff (staff
share about workshop at
working with women who have suffered violence). Curriculum
upcoming meeting as it
created by Womens College hospital and uses case studies
relates to Harm Reduction.
Upcoming meeting on community drug strategies in which Susan
Tim will send poster for
Shepherd of Toronto Drug Strategy will share about their drug
event and encourage
strategy. Plan to have representatives of each of four pillars
attendance by members of
(enforcement, prevention, treatment, harm reduction) as well as
coalition and promotion
youth and impacted family on panel. There was discussion of
amongst their circles. Tim
who else to invite for event/panel. Perhaps some with lived
will also work on
experience and others from OHSUTUP. Want to encourage
finalizing panel and
members of Harm Reduction to attend and promote.
program
Amending, clarifying and
It was noted that clear terms of reference crucial as forms basis of
working on Terms of
who we are, who we serve, purpose and public identity. What is
Reference will continue.
the measured outcome we wish to achieve? There was useful
Members requested to
discussion but no conclusive decisions on amended wording. The
consider and send any
clear statement for our mandate was: To promote Harm
thoughts or ideas in relation
Reduction principles and advocate for accessible harm reduction
to goals and objectives for
based services to priority populations as identified by HCYR
our Terms of Reference that
in York Region.
we will continue to discuss at
future meetings.

Next Meeting Date

At York University to
hear presentation by
Students doing Survey
and research
Wed Nov 26

Wed Nov 26 - next meeting will take place in room 402 of the
HNES building at York University. The presentation by the
students will begin around 11:45 but please try to come at 11:30
and meet the students. A light lunch will be provided by York
University as the meeting spans the noon hour. The HNES
building is number 31 on the map and we suggest you park in the
Arboretum Parking Garage number 80 on the map.

Encourage all members to

attend.

Drug Strategy
Meeting Nov 25