youth satellite meeting sunday, may 13 th the international youth network for harm reduction
TRANSCRIPT
Youth Satellite MeetingSunday, May 13th
The International Youth Network for Harm Reduction
Needs and Issues Faced by Youth Service Providers: Policy
Legal and ethical issues with age restrictions (reaching under 18 year olds), parental consent to access services & confidentiality
Criminalization (of sex workers, IDUs, etc) Human Rights, stigma, discrimination Clean needles
Needs and Issues Faced by Youth Service Providers: Relevance
Services & communication tailored to age group/ “age appropriate”
Cultural sensitivity Urban vs. rural (access to services) Up-to-date and responsive (inclusive of new
drugs young people use and how; i.e. synthetics, ketamines, etc.)
Include youth in design, implementation, M&E
Needs and Issues Faced by Youth Service Providers: Choice
Types of information and services available to youth- who decides content?
Different models for different needs/ communities
Role of primary prevention in harm reduction in the continuum of care for young people
Needs and Issues Faced by Youth Service Providers: Access
What services are available and cost Language, cultural sensitivity Funding and sustainability of services Access to internet Outreach Identifying needs of target groups Disability, age of consent, ethics Location and hours of services Drop-ins for young people, SWs, MSM, IDUs
Needs and Issues Faced by Youth Service Providers: Research and Evidence
Need for more youth indicators, age disaggregated data, evidence on efficacy of interventions that succeed for youth
Need for clearinghouse of information and resources
Best practice models, global assessment
Needs and Issues Faced by Youth Service Providers: Communication and Networking
Youth-friendly communication Visually appealing Multimedia including new technologies
that young people use Collaboration with allies, parents, families
& communities
Needs and Issues Faced by Youth Service Providers: Training
Project management, proposal and report writing, M&E, fundraising, advocacy, youth-led research
“Globally specific” standardized training materials that can be adapted to local needs
Local and online trainings Peer-to-peer training (Peer= same age, SW,
IDU, MSM, etc; skills building; media training)
Challenges
Including Hepatitis C services Confidentiality and referrals for youth under age 18 High cost of treatment and/or health insurance
(compared to youth incomes) Denial, conservatism/ religion, politicization of
issues Resource mobilization for youth-led or youth-
serving interventions
Challenges
Lack of youth participation & recognition that youth have special needs
Availability of syringes & services Vulnerability of out-of-school youth and children Terminology (“harm reduction” and “needle
exchange”) Criminalization of drug use and sex work drives
practice underground
Underlying Values of Network
Honest, evidence-based education Trust Youth-friendly & non-judgmental Realistic Based on human rights framework Health promotion
The International Youth Network for Harm Reduction is supported by:
International Harm Reduction Association UNICEF Canadian Youth Network for Harm
Reduction Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS