Data Dissemination
Below are all SHaRP resources related to data dissemination.
Brief Overview of Data Privacy & Security Considerations at Harm Reduction Programs (last updated: May 23, 2024)
This document introduces issues data privacy and security considerations for SSPs and harm reduction programs, including the defining anonymous services and confidential services, a brief overview of HIPAA and covered entities, good practices for data privacy and security, considerations for linkage to care data, and considerations when reporting out data.
HIV risk and prevention among clients of a delivery-based harm reduction service during an HIV outbreak among people who use drugs in northern rural Minnesota, USA. (last updated: August 31, 2023)
This academic paper was written by the SHaRP team about a point in time survey conducted by a delivery-based SSP operating out of Duluth, Minnesota.
Institutional Review Boards (IRB) Guidance for Harm Reduction Programs (last updated: October 28, 2024)
This document is to help harm reduction programs understand what an Institutional Review Board (IRB) is, what IRBs do, and when to submit a data collection plan to an IRB. We provide an overview of IRBs, explain what it means to collect data from human subjects, discuss the benefits of using an IRB, offer ways to access an IRB, and tell you what to expect when submitting for IRB review.
Is your syringe services program cost-savings to society? A methodological case study (last updated: August 28, 2021)
This academic paper was written by the SHaRP team for SSPs to consider how to calculate if their efforts are creating cost-savings by reducing HIV infections.
Leveraging Informal Qualitative Data at SSPs: Video Training
Since the development of the Leveraging Informal Qualitative Data at SSPs guidance document, we’ve led multiple online and in-person trainings of the content. On this page we have video recordings of the training materials. The videos are divided into 5 sections, with each section containing one or more videos. Descriptions of each section and links to videos are detailed below. We recommend that you watch videos in order. The recording of the webinar launching this TA can be found here.
Leveraging Informal Qualitative Data Collection and Use at Syringe Services Programs (last updated: March 27, 2023)
This document provides a brief overview of some informal approaches to qualitative data collection and analysis. Specifically, this document focuses on suggestions for how to create potential systems for informal qualitative data collection and analysis at syringe services programs (SSPs), including how to develop an overall objective for data collection. By “informal” data collection, we mean data that can be largely generated from routine service interactions as opposed to formal research activities, such as in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, or community based participatory research.
Monitoring and Evaluation Toolkit: Data Collection Methods and Pilot Testing (last updated: September 22, 2023)
The purpose of this guidance is to help syringe services programs (SSPs) and other harm reduction programs in establishing and maintaining data collection practices for program monitoring and evaluation. Programs may find this information useful if they have questions about the types of data they might collect, how they might record it, and how they might test out their methods with staff and participants. This guidance is part of a larger Monitoring and Evaluation Toolkit for SSPs that will serve as a resource for programs in all stages of the monitoring and evaluation process.
Point in Time Survey (PiTS) Toolkit for Use at Syringe Services Programs
A Point in Time Survey (PiTS) allows a syringe services program (SSP) to ask a standardized set of questions from a portion of their clients, providing a snapshot of the population that the SSP serves. These surveys can be a quick and low-cost way to learn about the characteristics, needs, and service utilization patterns of their clients. This 6 part toolkit (Intro, Planning Phase, Design Phase, Implementation Phase, Analysis Phase, Dissemination Phase) has instruction (i.e. written guidance and recorded sessions) and tools (i.e. templates, examples) for SSPs doing a PiTS.
SSP Indicators Implementation Guide (last updated: August, 2024)
In 2023 and 2024 the SHaRP team worked to create a list of community informed indicators, or data points, that we could recommend SSPs collect. The guidance includes an introduction and webinar recording, project background and methods, detailed information on each indicator divided by topic (supply and service provision, service coverage, service quality, engagement with people who use drugs, overdose prevention, demographics, and structural violence); an implementation checklist, and a brief to funders.
Using M&E to Better Serve Your Community: A Four-Part Webinar Series for Health Departments and SSPs in collaboration with the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO). These webinars, held over the course of 2021 and 2022 covered topics including client-centered models for M&E, statewide data systems, data dashboards for M&E, and the launch of the Point in Time Survey Toolkit.