Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction (HACHR): Social Work Employment-Based
The Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction (HACHR) is committed to building stronger, healthier communities by co-creating spaces that foster dignity, equity, and choice. Founded in 2014, by Brandie Wilson, HACHR has spent nearly a decade improving the health and wellness of people who use drugs (PWUD), are experiencing homelessness, or are engaged in sex work in Northern California’s Humboldt County, through advocacy, overdose prevention education, and harm reduction services. In addition to our harm reduction supply kits, our services include syringe access, naloxone training and distribution, linkage to low barrier Medication Assisted Treatment, case management, and basic needs support. We are a peer-led organization that is working to save lives in our community, distributing over 15,900 doses of naloxone and playing a role in at least 762 overdose reversals over the course of 2023. In a 2021 participant survey, over 50% of our participants say that HACHR is the only place they feel welcome and safe accessing services.
- Students may handle closed and locked syringe disposal containers, and new syringes (by choice).
- Students may NOT handle used syringes or any other biohazard materials in any circumstances.
- Students shall not be on-site without the supervision of at least one paid staff member.
- Students are permitted to attend fixed/established by HACHR service sites as long as they are under the supervision of a paid staff member (not another volunteer).
- Students are NOT permitted to visit and work at encampments.
- Students shall not involve themselves directly in any conflicts that may arise when providing services to our program participants. They will be directed to call in a paid staff member who will be in charge of de-escalation.
- Students will follow HACHR's Student Internship Workplace Policies, and all other workplace policies provided by the site, except those that contradict the above-mentioned circumstances.