Aara Amey-Ayer

Background

About Aara Amey-Ayer

I offer the following qualifications: Including a combination of skills and abilities in the Harm Reduction Service Delivery, Program Planning and Advocacy, Hepatitis C prevention, outreach, and treatment options, supports for People Who Use Drugs, folx in conflict with the law, Mental Health Survivors and Folx experiencing homelessness or sleeping rough. My practice includes harm reduction strategies, program development, health promotion, stakeholder consultation and evaluation of services and client outreach. I have I written and presented a comprehensive workshop called “Building Your Harm Reduction Tool Kit.’ I have taught this workshop to over 1500 people in the last two years. I have also been a presenter at the US National Harm Reduction Conference. I am the Co-Chair of the Harm Reduction Coalition of York Region and a Founding Member of the People Who Use Drugs Alliance of York Region. I am a member of the Ontario Harm Reduction Network. Finally, I am a member of the York Region Public Health Opioid Action Plan Community Awareness Workshops Planning and Anti-Stigma Groups. Member of the planning group and Master of Ceremonies for World Overdose/Poisoning Day Memorial York Region 2021. I am also a member of the National Safer Supply Community of Practice. I am an advocate who seeks solutions and builds networks within a social justice model. I am creative in my outreach strategies by offering new ideas and numerous opportunities for inclusive participation of all stakeholders, including clients, colleagues, community members and volunteers. As a member of the queer community, a person who uses drugs and as a mental health consumer, I understand the limits and lack of resources that individuals often meet with while in crisis. I have a great deal of experience in program planning, coordination, and evaluation. I meet the prescribed timelines and I am very enthusiastic in my promotion and delivery of services. I am proactive and organized in my efforts to identify and address community and systemic issues. I feel very strongly about my personal responsibility to participate in problem solving within my community and the larger GTA. As a sex positive queer woman and parent, I demonstrate a willingness and commitment to dialogue with clients about issues that are difficult to discuss. As a Registered Member of the OCSWSSW I bring professionalism to the work that I do. I have worked within a variety of settings including interdisciplinary teams, jails, coalition’s schools and shelters.