Education and Training
Community Education:
Talking openly about drug use and harm reduction isn’t always easy—but it’s essential to building safer, more inclusive communities. At Sanguen, we believe education should be fact-based, non-judgmental, and grounded in the realities of our region.
Our team delivers harm reduction–focused workshops and presentations tailored to local contexts and available resources. All sessions are facilitated by knowledgeable trainers with front-line experience and/or lived and living experience related to substance use, poverty, mental health, and housing insecurity. As members of the community, we understand the impacts of systemic barriers and oppression—and see education as a key harm reduction strategy.
We provide free education to:
- Non profits, charities, community groups and agencies
- Shelter and service providers
- Youth, teens, and adults with lived or living experience
Workshop Topics
Current workshop offerings include:
- Harm Reduction 101
- Drugs 101
- Overdose Response & Naloxone Administration
- Overamping & Stimulant Use
- Safer Consumption Practices
- Safer Sharps Handling
- HIV, Hepatitis C & Infectious Disease Prevention
- Safer Sex & Harm Reduction
- Challenging Stigma
- Compassion Fatigue & Secondary Stress
- Working Alongside People Who Use Substances
Workshops can be customized to meet your goals and time constraints, ranging from 30-minute sessions to full-day training.
Fee-for-Service Training
The toxic drug crisis impacts every corner of our community and every sector, including workplaces and local businesses. Sanguen offers fee-for-service training that gives organizations access to our experienced, knowledgeable staff to build understanding, preparedness, and compassionate responses within the workplace.
Our training sessions are practical, evidence-based, and grounded in local realities. Sessions can be tailored to your team’s needs and delivered in formats that work for your organization, including lunch-and-learns, half-day or full-day sessions, and fully customized workshops.
Whether your goal is to increase staff awareness, reduce stigma, improve safety, or strengthen your organization’s response to substance use and harm reduction, we can work with you to design a training that fits.
Contact us to learn more or to arrange training for your workplace.
Connect With Us
Waterloo Region
For community education and training information, contact:
📧 Simone Morrison – smorrison@sanguen.com
ESHRII
Emergency Shelter Harm Reduction Integration Initiative
The Emergency Shelter Harm Reduction Integration Initiative (ESHRII) is funded by the Region of Waterloo and delivered in partnership by Sanguen Health Centre and the THRIVE.
ESHRII supports emergency shelters and shelter-adjacent programs by providing low-barrier harm reduction education for staff, leadership, and participants. The program focuses on reducing harms associated with substance use in shelter settings.
To learn more about ESHRII or explore how it can support your agency:
📧 eshrii@sanguen.com
To connect with ACCKWA’s ESHRII partner:
📧 hrcapacity@acckwa.com