REFERRALS & NETWORKING

WHAT IS NETWORKING? Building linkage and relationship with other individuals /organizations/groups of people Sharing information and resources with above entities Seeking support from potential allies /group /agencies /network having different or varied skills and services that will ultimately assist IDUs

WHY NETWORK? IDU TI programmes cannot meet all the needs of IDUs IDUs are often ignorant of existing health care facilities Apart from health, IDUs have a number of other needs – e.g. food and nutrition, shelter, employment They are often ill-treated, discriminated and denied health care facilities

CONTD. IDUs may be prevented from accessing services provided by TIs & other agencies by groups / entities opposed to Harm Reduction programmes for IDUs IDUs are often stigmatised and suffer from low self- esteem; they feel insecure / threatened

CONTD. Networking therefore enables: Provision of health care services to IDUs over and above that offered by TI Provision of and access to other services needed by IDUs An enabling environment to access the above

POTENTIAL ENTITIES FOR NETWORKING 1. Health care providers: ICTCs ART centers DOTS providers (for Tuberculosis) Detoxification & Rehabilitation Centres Diagnostic Laboratories Community Care Centers (CCC) Government / Private Hospitals Agencies/organisations that are implementing prevention of & treatment for drug abuse programmes

CONTD. 2. Other services / facilities: Charities that provide food, clothes, shelter, etc. Government centres running schemes of shelter & clothing, e.g. night shelter Agencies implementing income generation programmes Agencies providing nutrition, educational support and vocational training of PLHIV/ family of PLHIV 3. E-groups/ forums/ networks working towards minimisation/ reduction of harms related to injecting drug use

CONTD. 4. Actors that affect enabling environment: Law enforcement agencies: Police & Narcotics Control Bureau General community: Community leaders, influential persons, local club & various social organization leaders, etc. Political groups, MLAs, Pradhans Various religious groups – Churches, etc Legal aid groups, rights activists. Organisations working against drug users

STEPS IN NETWORKING & REFERRALS Mapping of Referral Agencies The PM with other staff, including outreach and community members, should prepare a map wherein services available in locality/ town are identified Preparation of simple database including: Name of the agency Type of service available Key person/ contact person Address Telephone number Office timings

CONTD. TI staff should meet the key person in identified agencies to inform about TI activities and advocate for making the service available to IDUs and partners All TI staff should be informed of the networking and subsequent meetings The service map and directory should be prominently displayed in the DIC as well as TI staff rooms; a list of such services should also be provided to ORWs

CONTD. Establishment of a system of referrals Accompaniment of referral cases by ORW/ other TI staff Printing of referral slips/cards (in triplicate) & giving a card / slip each time a case is referred Collection of referral cards by TI staff from referral agencies at the end of the month to ascertain number of IDUs/ partners who accessed referred service

REFERRAL ANALYSIS Analysis of the referrals should be conducted at the end of the month by PM & shared with TI staff in monthly meetings Reasons should be ascertained for low referrals and this should be addressed in the networking meetings Regular meetings should be conducted by TI team with the referral agencies to ensure continuity of services

Networking with agencies that either obstruct or assist the TI implementation should be carried out regularly Refer to the chapter on Advocacy for more details NETWORKING & ENABLING ENVIRONMENT

CONCLUSION A wide range of organizations can provide support for & assistance to TI programmes Referral networks are needed for effective outreach and prevention of HIV & BBV among IDUs A number of unmet needs of IDUs can be met through effective referral networks Networks strengthen and build linkage among all key players Gaps in services can be gradually filled through collaborative work & networks