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Hacks for Mobile Shift Prep

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This refers to the groundwork that must be laid before services take place, and should be updated regularly/at least once a year regarding what supplies are needed.

Some pre-shift Hacks include:

  • Map your community in order to determine where to put services or expand existing services. This means identifying resources in the community, such as service sites, stores, and/or locations where folks might be copping or using. Some of this can be done using maps, but a lot of it must be done by driving or walking the areas that you might serve.
  • When in doubt, consult your participants.
  • Pack supplies during kit-making parties involving volunteers! Even if you can’t pay people, at least have snacks and make it a good time for everyone.
  • Make sure the bags and/or vehicles are packed leaving enough time for transiting to your locations.
  • If you don’t have a janitorial service, use a chore wheel or chart to share responsibility for cleaning and organizing outreach bags.
  • Rotate who sets up so that everyone can do it.
  • Use checklists to maintain consistency.
  • Make sure to conduct an annual survey of your participants for needs assessment. This can help you understand what folks need and where you can improve your services.
  • Make connections with your service provider allies in the community to help. Get the word out about new supplies or services available through your organization.
  • Utilize word-of-mouth and social media to get the word out about your services.
  • You might also think about going old-school and putting flyers in places where you think that folks who use drugs might congregate, such as food distribution sites, shelters, and bars.

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