Pasadena: ‘A Candid Conversation About Substance Use and Homelessness’

(Photos – Union Station Homeless Services, Graphics Dept.)

“Substance use and mental illness are symptoms of larger systemic issues: a lack of upstream interventive resources and access to appropriate treatment and services that are charged with catching and treating these issues before they turn into homelessness,” wrote Shawn Morrissey in a recent op-ed piece published in ColoradoBoulevard.net.

Shawn will be joined by Mark Casanova and Monique Tula to have an open dialogue on this topic at our upcoming Changing the Narrative Series: A Candid Conversation about Substance Use and Homelessness on January 31 at 5:30 pm.

They’ll delve into how harm reduction works and discuss how “Any Positive Change” celebrates and affirms small, incremental changes in condition, environment, and thinking around drug use and misuse. These methods can ultimately lead to health and recovery.

Union Station CEO Anne Miskey will moderate. Register for webinar here.

Speakers

Mark Casanova, Homeless Health Care Los Angeles
Executive Director

Committed to a harm reduction model of direct services, training, policy, and advocacy, Mark works to inspire others to care about people wherever they find themselves. Founded in 1985, Homeless Health Care Los Angeles has helped more than 200,000 of the most marginalized and impoverished individuals in Los Angeles through outreach, case-management, and low threshold medical services. By working on a day-to-day, individual level, HHCLA offers individualized care that improves quality-of-life and ensures access to critically needed services.

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Monique Tula, National Harm Reduction Coalition
Executive Director

Monique Tula is the Executive Director of National Harm Reduction Coalition, a national advocacy and capacity-building organization that promotes the health and dignity of people affected by drug use. Previously, she was the Vice President of Programs with AIDS United where she oversaw the grantmaking and technical assistance portfolios. With more than 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector, Ms. Tula has devoted her career to harm reduction advocacy and infrastructure development of community-based organizations.

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Anne Miskey, Union Station Homeless Service
CEO

Anne Miskey is a nationally recognized expert on strategic, innovative, and effective solutions to ending homelessness. She’s a passionate proponent of the most vulnerable in society and of creating long term, positive change and strong systems that support those experiencing poverty, violence, racism and homelessness.

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Shawn Morrissey, Union Station Homeless Service
Sr. Director, Advocacy and Community Engagement

Shawn Morrissey brings extensive knowledge of the issues involved in addressing homelessness, with 16 years of experience in the field of homeless advocacy, service provision and social justice with a focus on mental health and substance use disorders.