Trauma-Informed Care for Youth Who Use Substances
There is a vast spectrum of reasons and factors that lead people to use substances, and part of understanding how to best be trauma-informed and reduce harm means understanding the role colonization and generational trauma can play in substance use, as well as understanding that for some people their relationship to substance is rooted in joy, pleasure, and mindfulness. This session will examine the importance of de-stigmatizing substance usage, utilize a housing-first approach to exploring the importance of housing all youth, including those who are using substances, and share best practices on how providers and organizations can ensure that their programs and policies aren’t exclusionary to people using substances.
Speakers:
Pauli Cakes, Founder of xCakes, Program Committee Member of Point Source Youth
Presto Crespo, Coordinator of Support Services, NEXT distro
Christina Love, Advocacy Initiative Senior Specialist, The Alaska Network on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault