In the Spotlight
Project Voice WERC

Los Angeles, CA – The Worker Education and Resource Center, Inc. (WERC) addresses shortages in Behavioral Health workers for Los Angeles and Alameda counties with their High Road Training Partnership grant. They have developed a training program for Community Health Workers who specialize as Harm Reduction Specialists. These specialized workers help mitigate the impacts of substance abuse and other risk factors in vulnerable communities by connecting their communities to vital resources. 

One component of their project’s work includes developing a Community Health Worker (CHW) – Harm Reduction Specialist training program. WERC partners with L.A. County Harm Reduction Division, community partners, healthcare providers, and advocacy groups to prioritize trauma-informed training. This collaboration ensures the training prioritizes equity in service delivery and employment practices, including culturally responsive training materials, practical role-play opportunities, and bias training delivered through a trauma-informed approach.

Harm Reduction Specialists are needed in the most vulnerable communities. WERC shared, “Harm Reduction Specialists’ work mitigates risks associated with substance abuse, reduces harm, and supports individuals in accessing vital resources. Their contributions to public health, safety, and community well-being should not be overlooked.”  WERC continues to build its employer network, advocacy, and education to the Harm Reduction workforce to create resilient communities.

WERC Harm Reduction Specialists have lived experience and reside in the community they serve. It has been critical to the program that trainees have lived experience as it ensures the curriculum remains authentic and relevant.

Rudy Villalobos
Engagement and Recruitment Coordinator for WERC

As the Engagement & Recruitment Coordinator for WERC, Rudy Villalobos’ job is to engage and recruit individuals to the Harm Reduction Specialist program. Villalobos grew up in a community where homelessness, substance abuse, gang violence, and poverty were commonplace, and he has been a Difference Maker for many residents there. His intuition and professional training have contributed to the program’s strategy of building equity in the Los Angeles region.

Villalobos has seen the growth of homelessness and the need for more human-centered support from people with lived experience. His outreach strategy is to place the individual and their needs first. This approach has earned Villalobos the trust of the community. Building trust allows him to be more effective in supporting individuals as they transition from unemployment and homelessness to a path where a career and family life are possible.

Villalobos describes his work as his destiny: “I will fight for individuals as much as possible, and when you love what you do, it’s not just a job.”