2025 Wisconsin Harm Reduction Conference

July 16-17, 2025: Wisconsin Dells and virtual

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services will host the Wisconsin Harm Reduction Conference July 16-17, 2025, at the Chula Vista in Wisconsin Dells and virtually.

The 2025 Wisconsin Harm Reduction Conference comes at a time when harm reduction, health and behavioral health care, and drug policy reform have entered a dynamic and critical phase. The changing and volatile drug supply is having increasingly deadly impacts on people who use drugs.

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.

Call for proposals

The 2025 Wisconsin Harm Reduction Conference Planning Committee is seeking applications for one-hour sessions related to harm reduction efforts for presentation at the Wisconsin Harm Reduction Conference.

We welcome proposals on all topics related to harm reduction. Special consideration will be made for proposals that address any or all of the following priorities: Outreach activities cultural minority groups most harmed by substance use, harm reduction in sex work, and building partnerships with communities and partners in harm reduction. The committee is interested in proposals that will engage, educate, and teach the audience new skills, and especially presentations with step-by-step processes to support their harm reduction efforts. The committee is committed to equity and diversity of experience shared by presenters.

Please 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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