Harm Reduction Conference

Joan Viteri Memorial Clinic is a student-run, non-profit free clinic based in Sacramento, California and operated by students of the University of California, Davis. Their mission is to provide access to high-quality and inclusive healthcare for LGBTQIA+, sex worker, drug user, and unhoused communities. Harm reduction is central to the clinic's work; harm reduction is a patient-centered and non-judgmental approach to care that prioritizes autonomy and safety. Rather than seeking to eliminate behaviors, harm reduction focuses on minimizing preventable harm through education, compassionate care, and access to essential resources.

 

The clinic's services include primary care for chronic and acute diseases, wound care, reproductive health procedures, and STI prevention, treatment, and education. In addition, JVMC partners with Stockton Harm Reduction Program, which provides basic needs resources to unhoused communities in Stockton, California, and Gender Health Clinic, which offers free gender-affirming care. 

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Each year, Joan Viteri Memorial Clinic hosts a harm reduction conference for students and healthcare staff build knowledge and awareness around harm reduction principles, practices, and characteristics. In 2026, the Aasha Foundation has partnered with JVMC to expand outreach and increase community access to the conference. With this support, the conference will be held in a larger venue and will feature additional keynote speakers, hands-on workshops focused on harm reduction in drug use and emergency care, and educational stations addressing a wide range of health conditions and services.

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The Aasha Foundation is extremely honored to support this conference and its impact on community education and public health awareness. We would like to acknowledge Brandon Greenleaf and Christine Franklin, the co-directors of JVMC for the 2025-2026 academic year, for their leadership and continued support for the Aasha Foundation’s mission to advance public health through education and outreach.

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The Harm Reduction Conference 2026 will occur on May 2nd, 2026 in Davis, California. While planning is ongoing, the conference is expected to welcome increased attendance and a diverse lineup of speakers and workshops, offering a broad and inclusive range of educational topics centered around harm reduction.

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