Workshops on reducing STBBI-related stigma
Since 2014, in collaboration with the Centre for Sexuality, CPHA has developed the content for five workshops focused on equipping frontline health and social service providers with the attitudes, knowledge and skills needed to provide safer, more inclusive and ultimately less stigmatizing sexual health, harm reduction and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI)-related services. The workshops are founded on adult education principles and promising practices in stigma reduction, and were pilot tested across the country to ensure their relevance and utility to a broad range of health and social service providers in Canada.
All are available on the Training and education hub to address sexual health and harm reduction stigma (The Hub), along with additional resources and supports.
To gain access to the Hub, including all the workshop resources and content to support you or your organization to facilitate a training session in your community, please read the instructions and complete the form at the bottom of this page.
Exploring STBBIs and stigma: An introductory workshop for health and social service providers
During this introductory workshop, participants will explore stigma, the multiple factors that contribute to stigma, and the potential impacts of stigma on clients as well as public health interventions. In addition, this workshop will focus on strategies that can be employed at both practice and organizational levels to foster change and ultimately create more welcoming and inclusive environments for clients.
Moving beyond the basics: An advanced workshop about sexual health, substance use, STBBIs and stigma
This advanced workshop is designed for service providers currently working in harm reduction, sexual health or STBBI-related services. During this workshop, participants will explore the multiple factors that contribute to STBBI-related stigma and the potential impacts of stigma on clients, as well as public health interventions. Participants will have an opportunity to enhance their skills in discussing sexuality, substance use and STBBIs with their clients and will be provided with several strategies and tools that can be employed to mitigate stigma within their practice.
Challenging organizational stigma: Providing safer and more inclusive sexual health, harm reduction and STBBI-related services
During this interactive workshop, intended for frontline health and social service providers, program managers and administrators, participants will critically analyze the policies, practices and culture of their own organization and will assess the strengths and challenges faced by their organizations in providing harm reduction, sexual health and STBBI-related services that are less stigmatizing. Participants can expect to work through various tools in order to develop strategies that can be used to address stigma and discrimination within their workplaces.
Reducing stigma through trauma- and violence- informed care (TVIC)
In this workshop for frontline health and social service providers, participants will explore how experiences of trauma and stigma can impact service users’ health and well-being as well as access to health and social services. Through discussion and interactive activities, participants will explore the principles of trauma- and violence-informed care (TVIC), and learn to employ this approach within their practice to challenge the stigma associated with STBBIs, sexuality, and substance use. Participants will gain practical tools and skills to integrate TVIC into their interactions with service users, and into the policies and practices of their organizations in order to contribute to safer and more inclusive sexual health, harm reduction and STBBI-related services.
At the intersection: Building awareness and capacity to support people experiencing intersectional stigma
During this interactive online workshop for service providers, program managers and administrators, participants will discuss and analyze the intersection of stigma related to sexuality, substance use and sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI) with other forms of oppression (such as racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism). Participants will explore potential impacts of intersectional stigma on health, well-being and engagement with health and social services and be provided with practical tools and strategies to build their capacity to support communities and individuals affected by intersectional stigma using an equity lens.
All workshop resources can be accessed on the Training and education hub to address sexual health and harm reduction stigma (the Hub). To gain access to the Hub, please first access and complete the short online module, Facilitating adult learning: Addressing stigma related to STBBIs. Once you have completed the online module, complete the form below to request access to the workshop resources, attaching your certificate of completion from the online course.
We will respond to your request and provide access to the Hub within three business days. Your information is important to us and will not be shared. Collecting information allows us to monitor and evaluate the use of our tools.