JHSBH and Community Collaborations: putting research into action

1
JHSBH and Community Collaborations putting
research into action

• Susan G. Sherman, PhD, MPH
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

2
Researchers Responsibilities

• To study participants and population
• To staff
• To communities in which they live
• To policies in which drug users live

3
Challenges of Research

• Real time vs. research time
• Only some participants may benefit
• Replication

4
Responsibility to Community

• Share information learned in research
• Share information from literature, conferences
• Utilize power in exposure, position, connection
• Role as conduit from research to programs,
  policy, advocacy

5
A Bit about Baltimore
Approximately 10 (65,000) of Baltimore city
residents use heroin, with half injecting (DEA,
2000).
6
Links with NEP

• Legitimate role
• NEP evaluator for the past decade
• Credible voice for data to legislature
• Overdose prevention program evaluator for past
  year
• Under the table
• Syringe distribution policies
• Provision of services and materials
• Connecting clients with resources

7
Establishing Harm Reduction Working Group

• Collaboration with health department
• Networks with local resources
• Creating a forum for harm reduction change in
  city
• Demystify harm reduction

8
Harm Reduction Working Group

• Network of people
• Housing
• Drug treatment
• Homeless services
• NGO focusing on recently released inmates at city
  jail
• NEP
• Job training
• HIV prevention NGOs

9
HRWG Goals

• Establish dialogue
• Venue for information dissemination
• Creation of speakers bureau
• Creation of client-centered services

10
Connections to the Media

• Find a journalist
• Dissemination of research findings
• Young drug users
• Advocate for new city programs
• Comment on local news
• jail