In this session, staff from Lantern Community Services will share our experience cultivating a culture of evidence-based practice in supportive housing. Our work is guided by the core principles and practices of its foundational evidence-based approaches, the practice wisdom and experience of its staff, and the preferences and values of its participants. We will share the steps we've taken to implement two foundational evidence-based approaches in our supportive housing, namely harm reduction and Motivational Interviewing, by intentionally developing programming based solidly in the principles and practices required to maintain fidelity to each model.

Lantern's implementation of both evidence-based models has relied heavily upon staff and tenant feedback, as well as inclusive participation among staff and tenants in the development and delivery of trainings and ongoing capacity building and practice activities. We model the core principles and techniques of each approach-including an approach to implementation that is non-judgmental, non-coercive, anti-oppressive, responsive to trauma, and guided by those who are most impacted by organizational decision-making. The storytelling presentation will outline the core elements of each evidence-based approach, as well as the core elements of program implementation that are intentionally aligned. We will share successes and challenges, as well as our anticipated next steps to continue to make our use of these approaches more robust. Following the presentation, we will guide small groups in workshopping their own program implementation related to evidence-based approaches, creating a space for meaningful and generative collaboration, creativity, and community building.