SWRA
WHO WE ARE
SWRA was born out of need, resistance, and bigg love. In the summer of 2019, Christopher Abert, our founder, started distributing syringes in Central Phoenix on a bike. Chris was armed with some syringes, naloxone, drug use experience, and a vision and drive to create something better for people who use drugs in Arizona.
Chris invited a few friends (people with living/lived experience of drug use and sex work), those who have been impacted by drug policy, overdose, HIV & Hep C, and harmful sex work legislation, and we began caring for people who use drugs in our community. As peers, we know what happens when people don't have access to harm reduction supplies, so we are dedicated to providing low-barrier, free services to people who use drugs and are neighbors who live outside in the Phoenix area.
Today, we continue with the vision Chris bestowed upon us, remain the only all-peer-led syringe service program in Phoenix, and have expanded to integrated services that include HIV & Hep C screenings; as well as hosting bi-monthly Community Nights.
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Our syringe service program not only promotes safer practices and provides the supplies to do so, but also serves as a point of meaningful connection and empowerment for people who consume substances, promoting overdose and disease prevention.
Integrated within our syringe service program is free HIV and Hepatitis C testing with linkage to care. At the end of the day, we want people to experience BIGG love while accessing the supplies they need to prevent HIV, Hepatitis C, and overdose.
Alongside our direct services, we host a bi-monthly Community Night. Community Nights increase opportunities for education, enrichment, and support while providing pro-social activities not only for our program participants but for all community members who attend.
SWRA MILESTONES
SWRA
VALUES
01
Keeping People Connected to Community
The key to keeping people who use drugs meaningfully connected in their communities, with access to disease prevention and health services, and to reduce recidivism rates is to treat every person, regardless of their circumstance or condition, with dignity and respect.
02
Judgment Free
Self- Empowerment
SWRA’s nonjudgmental approach allows our members to move through a process of self-discovery and self-empowerment at their own pace (based off the dominant behavioral change theory stemming from 35 years of peer reviewed research of over 150,000 research participants).
03
Improving Health and Saftey of all
By developing relationships based on honesty, community, tolerance and cooperation, our staff and volunteers help clients live healthier and more fulfilling lives, while raising the health and safety index of the community.
04
Connect to Services
One of our most important functions is to serve as an access point for the many other services we provide directly or to refer to our numerous community partners.
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WHAT WE ARE DOING
Giving out life saving supplies and doing street outreach is actually a very small part of what we are doing (though it is important in that it gives us access to a hard to reach, criminalized and stigmatized population).
Our of our most important functions is to serve as an access point for the many other services we provide directly or to refer to our numerous community partners.
You can read more about SWRA below:
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