2025 Wisconsin Harm Reduction Conference

July 16-17, 2025: Wisconsin Dells and virtual

New information about scholarships, keynotes, lodging, and registration

Wisconsin’s second Harm Reduction Conference will provide a time and space to learn and network. The goal of the conference is to bring together experts in the field of harm reduction along with others interested in learning about and expanding harm reduction services, resources, and policies. This opportunity will provide a chance to build relationships with partners involved in the advancement of harm reduction in the state. For two days, we will come together to address a myriad of complex issues facing the harm reduction movement and drug user health.

Scholarships

A predetermined number of scholarships will be offered to those interested in attending who might not otherwise be able to attend. Scholarships will cover either in-person or virtual registration and up to two nights in a hotel if attending in-person. Because there is a limited number of scholarships available, interested individuals will need to complete a scholarship application.

Scholarships are limited to Wisconsin residents.

Applications will be reviewed and awarded based on demonstrated need. Because we anticipate receiving more requests for scholarships than we have available, selections will be made through a lottery system. Applications will be screened, with priority given to those who show they would not be able to attend otherwise, early career professionals, people with lived and/or living experience, and those interested in furthering harm reduction in Wisconsin. After screening, selection will be done through a random drawing of qualified applicants until all scholarships are awarded.

The deadline to apply has been extended through January 24, 2025, due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Award notifications will be made no later than January 31, 2025. If you are submitting an application, please do not register for the conference until you have been notified of your scholarship application status. Awardees will be provided additional information on how to register once selections have been made.

Apply for a scholarship

A courtesy copy of the application is included below.

Please provide your contact information:

First name
Last name
Company name
Email address
Street address
City
Zip Code

What type of scholarship support are you requesting? (select all that apply).

Conference attendance:

__ In-person registration ($375 value)

Lodging ($98/night value):
__ Lodging Wed. July 15
__ Lodging Thurs. July 16

If in-person scholarships are not available, would you be interested in a scholarship to attend virtually? Y/N

__ Virtual registration ($300 value)

Tell us about yourself

Note that this information will not be shared outside of the scholarship review panel. Only include what you feel comfortable sharing.

Are you working/volunteering in the field? Please explain your role in your organization or related to harm reduction efforts (include whether your work is professional, personal, or both) and why attending this conference is important to you. (300-word limit)

What do you hope to learn at the 2025 WI Harm Reduction Conference? (250-word limit)

Briefly tell us about your career goals and/or future interest in engaging with harm reduction work. (250-word limit)

Please select all identities/roles that apply to you:
__ A person who accesses harm reduction services and/or programs
__ AIDS, HIV, and viral hepatitis care worker
__ Syringe services program (SSP) provider
__ Peer support (navigator, recovery coach, peer support specialist, etc.)
__ Health care professional (substance use disorders counselor, community health care worker, mental health professional, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician, etc.)
__ First responder (law enforcement, EMS, fire department, or mobile response teams)
__ Local government and/or Tribal elected official (county judge, executive, mayor, president, Tribal council member)
__ Local and/or Tribal health and/or human services department staff (director, harm reduction staff, health educator)
__ Public health or healthcare student/fellow
__ Faith leader, Tribal elder or other spiritual leader
__ K-12 or postsecondary education student services specialist (health, counseling, school nurse, school-based mental health, community schools coordinator, dean of students, or related)
__ Other - write in: _________________________________________________

Keynote speakers

We are excited to announce this year’s keynote speakers:

Ricky Bluthenthal is the Associate Dean for Social Justice and Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and a Professor in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences and the Institute for Prevention Research in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Bluthenthal’s research has established the effectiveness of syringe exchange programs, tested novel interventions and strategies to reduce HIV risk and improve HIV testing among injection drug users and men who have sex with men, documented how community conditions contribute to health disparities, and examined health policy implementation. His current studies include an observational cohort study of how cannabis legalization impacts use patterns and health outcomes of cannabis and opioids among people who inject drugs and a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of a single session intervention to reduce injection initiation risk behaviors among established people who inject drugs.

Joy Rucker is a co-founder of the Black Harm Reduction Network (BHRN). Rucker has worked at the intersections of substance use, HIV, houselessness, and mental health issues for several decades. Rucker first started her intersectional work doing outreach to people who injected/inject drugs in Massachusetts and becoming one of the first National Harm Reduction Coalition (NHRC) trainers. She continues to focus on the progress that needs to be made, particularly by, with, and for Black folks to save lives and create a world where Black people who use drugs and all Black people are free from the harms of interconnected oppressive systems and beliefs.

Philomena Kebec is a Bloomberg Fellow with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Kebec belongs to the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, where she is working on building systems and supports for harm reduction and overdose prevention, Tribal healthcare optimization, small business growth and financing and improving community access to local and traditional foods. Kebec is an attorney and judge licensed to practice law in Tribal and state courts and has over a decade of experience providing legal and policy services to Tribal nations.

Registration and lodging

More details on registration and lodging will be coming in February.

In-person registration will cost $375. There will be a room block available for $98/night. Virtual registration will cost $300.

The conference will run from:

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2025*
8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2025

*There will be optional activities planned for the evening.

Call for proposals

The 2025 Wisconsin Harm Reduction Conference Planning Committee call for proposals has closed. We will be informing applicants via email whether their application has been accepted.

A courtesy copy for awareness purposes is included below.

Fill out the survey fields to the best of your ability. We understand it can be difficult to make final decisions about session details this far in advance. The planning committee will continue to work with selected presenters on content and logistics in the coming months.

Upon submission of a proposal, confirmation of receipt will be sent to the email address listed in the received proposal. All proposals are due by Friday, December 6, 2024, by 5 p.m. Individual session proposals may include up to two presenters. Presenters may submit multiple session proposals by completing separate applications for each session proposal. Submissions will be reviewed by the 2025 Wisconsin Harm Reduction Conference Planning Committee. Notifications of participation will be made by January 15, 2025.

Selected presenters may be eligible to receive complimentary registration to the conference (which includes lunch both days) and one night of lodging for up to two presenters. This will be determined once the planning committee has selected all proposals for the Harm Reduction Conference and budget details are finalized.

Should you have any questions about the 2025 Wisconsin Harm Reduction Conference or this call for presentations, email dhsbhsfundingopportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

Before proceeding, make sure you have the following information prepared:

Topic area
Speaker(s) name and contact information
Speaker availability for event dates
Speaker(s) bio
Session title, description, and learning objectives
Session format and length

Courtesy copy of application for proposals

Contact information

First Name ________________________________________________________
Last Name_________________________________________________________
Preferred Pronouns__________________________________________________
Title ______________________________________________________________
Email address_______________________________________________________
Agency/organization__________________________________________________

Presenter bio

In 800 characters or less, describe who you are, what you do, your title, company, years in the field, professional affiliations, accomplishments, certifications/licenses, and/or education. The planning committee reserves the right to edit the text. No personal contact information (email address or telephone number) will be published.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

For your session, will you have any additional presenters?

Yes
No
Not sure/undecided

Session information

Which priority topic area(s) will your session include? (choose all that apply)

Policies and procedures
Reducing stigma and raising awareness
Principles overview
Harm Reduction services, resources, delivery
Other __________________________________________________

Please select the intended audience for your presentation. (choose all that apply)

Harm reduction professional
Individuals with lived or living experience
Family members of people who use drugs
Educators
Public health professionals
Criminal justice professionals (including law enforcement)
County employees
Local government
Other __________________________________________________

Working title of your proposed presentation.
________________________________________________________________

Session description (800 characters or less).
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Learning outcomes: Please list 2-3 outcomes that participants will take away with them after attending your session.

Outcome 1 _________________________________________________

Outcome 2 _________________________________________________

Outcome 3 _________________________________________________

Session format

Large group presentation
Panel/multiple speakers
Workgroup
Other__________________________________________________

How long do you expect your session to be?

60 minutes or less
60-90 minutes
Not sure/open to any length

Have you presented on this topic before?

If yes, when and where did you present this topic/session?
________________________________________________________________

When are you available to present? (choose all options that you are available for)

Wednesday, July 16 - A.M.
Wednesday, July 16 - P.M.
Thursday, July 17 - A.M.
Thursday, July 17 - P.M.
No limitations known at this time

Are you interested in having exhibit space at the 2025 Wisconsin Harm Reduction Conference? If so, we will be contacting you in the near future to discuss details.

Yes
No
Maybe

Do you have any additional information you would like to share or ask about at this time that the Committee should consider while reviewing your proposal?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Conference objectives

Provide safe spaces for the exchange of ideas and cutting-edge practices that reduce harms associated with drug use.
Create networking opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds committed to program and policy change and reform.
Promote the delivery of harm reduction services in Wisconsin and Tribal nations that engage people who use drugs to support connection, safety, and improved quality of life.
Provide the opportunity to discuss the benefits of harm reduction, best practices, resources, policies, and areas needing development and support.

Who should attend

Syringe service programs (SSPs) providers
Local and Tribal health and health and human services department staff, including, directors, nurses, harm reduction staff, health educators, and peer support specialists
Health care professionals, including, substance use disorders counselors, community health care workers, mental health professionals, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and physicians
Public health and health care students and fellows
Overdose fatality review (OFR) members
First responders, including, law enforcement, EMS, fire department, mobile response teams
AIDS, HIV, and viral hepatitis care workers
Local government and Tribal elected officials, including, county and judge executives, mayors, presidents, council Tribal members

Join us to connect some of the brightest minds in harm reduction, including those serving and working in the field every day, those with lived and living experiences, and those who are new to harm reduction.

Additional information

As more information becomes available, it will be posted to this webpage.

Wisconsin's first harm reduction conference was held in 2023. Want to learn more about the 2023 conference? Check out the video created to share some highlights from this conference.

Questions can be directed to citee-events@uwm.edu.

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