COE Addressing Community Stigma - JHF

March 25, 2026

Participants will deepen their understanding of the definitions, drivers, and consequences of stigma related to substance use disorder (SUD), including moral judgment, media influence, recovery pathway bias, and structural discrimination, and how these factors affect treatment engagement, therapeutic alliance, and outcomes. Participants will also develop organizational and advocacy strategies at multiple levels to reduce stigma and support diverse recovery pathways.

Agenda:

  1. Introduction
  2. Understanding Stigma
    1. Definitions of stigma and bias
    2. Components of stigma and how it operates
    3. Social, cultural, and systemic drivers of stigma
  3. Causes and Forms of Stigma
    1. Moral judgment and lack of understanding
    2. Media influence and cultural beliefs
    3. Recovery pathway bias and harm reduction stigma
    4. Paternalistic values and assumptions
  4. Effects of Stigma on Care and Outcomes
    1. Impact on treatment engagement and outcomes
    2. Effects on therapeutic alliance
    3. Structural and discriminatory practices
  5. Tools for Addressing Stigma
    1. Education and awareness strategies
    2. Contact-based interventions
    3. Person-first and affirming language
    4. Self-reflection and supervision
  6. Addressing Stigma in the Recovery Community
    1. Understanding diverse recovery pathways
    2. Navigating stigma within mutual aid spaces
    3. Supporting client choice and autonomy
  7. Advocacy as a Strategy to Reduce Stigma
    1. Definition and scope of advocacy
    2. Advocacy in case management
    3. Client-, organization-, community-, and systems-level advocacy
  8. Discussion/ Questions

Target Audience

  • Nurse
  • Physician
  • Social Worker

Learning Objectives

• Describe the causes and consequences of stigma related to substance use disorder (SUD).
• Recognize and challenge stigmatizing language and attitudes in professional settings.
• Develop organizational strategies to reduce stigma within COE services and systems.
• Use advocacy approaches to effectively work to minimize stigma in communities.

 

 

Additional Information

AttachmentSize
File Audience Disclosure slides (1.25)_84.pptx51.55 KB
File Addressing Community Stigma-Agenda- References .docx41.42 KB
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • 1.25 ANCC
    UPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
  • 1.25 ASWB
  • 1.25 Attendance
Course opens: 
03/25/2026
Course expires: 
04/25/2026
Event starts: 
03/25/2026 - 12:00pm EDT
Event ends: 
03/25/2026 - 1:30pm EDT
Add to calendar: 

Participants will deepen their understanding of the definitions, drivers, and consequences of stigma related to substance use disorder (SUD), including moral judgment, media influence, recovery pathway bias, and structural discrimination, and how these factors affect treatment engagement, therapeutic alliance, and outcomes. Participants will also develop organizational and advocacy strategies at multiple levels to reduce stigma and support diverse recovery pathways.

Agenda:

  1. Introduction
  2. Understanding Stigma
    1. Definitions of stigma and bias
    2. Components of stigma and how it operates
    3. Social, cultural, and systemic drivers of stigma
  3. Causes and Forms of Stigma
    1. Moral judgment and lack of understanding
    2. Media influence and cultural beliefs
    3. Recovery pathway bias and harm reduction stigma
    4. Paternalistic values and assumptions
  4. Effects of Stigma on Care and Outcomes
    1. Impact on treatment engagement and outcomes
    2. Effects on therapeutic alliance
    3. Structural and discriminatory practices
  5. Tools for Addressing Stigma
    1. Education and awareness strategies
    2. Contact-based interventions
    3. Person-first and affirming language
    4. Self-reflection and supervision
  6. Addressing Stigma in the Recovery Community
    1. Understanding diverse recovery pathways
    2. Navigating stigma within mutual aid spaces
    3. Supporting client choice and autonomy
  7. Advocacy as a Strategy to Reduce Stigma
    1. Definition and scope of advocacy
    2. Advocacy in case management
    3. Client-, organization-, community-, and systems-level advocacy
  8. Discussion/ Questions

 

Zoom Meeting
Pittsburgh, PA
United States

Elizabeth Schrage, MA, MPP, Senior Program Implementation Specialist, PERU

Brian Issi, MSW, LSW, MBA, Associate Program Implementation Specialist, PERU

 

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the University of Pittsburgh and The Jewish Healthcare Foundation. The University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, University of Pittsburgh is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. University of Pittsburgh maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.25 continuing education credits.

Physician (CME)
The University of Pittsburgh designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing (CNE)
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 1.25 contact hours.

Social Work (ASWB)
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Social Work Education activity is 1.25 contact hours.

Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.

Available Credit

  • 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • 1.25 ANCC
    UPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
  • 1.25 ASWB
  • 1.25 Attendance
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