Statewide Harm Reduction Symposium

2026 Harm Reduction Symposium Draft Agenda (subject to change)

Day 1: November 17, 2026

9:30 AM: Registration Opens 

10:30 AM: Welcome Remarks 

11:00 PM: Plenary Session 

12:15 PM: Working Lunch 

1:45 PM: Breakout Sessions 1A, 1B, & 1C

2:40 PM: Breakout Sessions 2A, 2B, & 2C

3:50 PM: Workshop

5:00 PM: Closing Remarks 

End Day 1 

Day 2: November 18, 2026

7:00 AM: Breakfast On Your Own

7:30 AM: Registration Opens

8:00 AM: Day 2 Welcome

8:05 AM: Plenary Session 

10:25 AM: Breakout Sessions 3A, 3B, & 3C

11:30 AM: Plenary Session

12:30 PM: Closing Remarks 

End Day 2

Who Should Attend (Audience and Waitlist)?

Audience: Each LHD should identify two representatives to attend this event who work on overdose prevention and response activities. LHDs are encouraged to identify one LHD staff, and one community partner that you work with on overdose prevention and response activities to attend this symposium. If applicable, we strongly encourage the community partner to be from your county’s local syringe exchange program or drug user health hub, an individual with lived/living experience*, or a harm reduction worker. NYSACHO will provide lodging for two (2) representatives from each county.

*Lived/Living Experience = We have broadly defined ‘lived and living experience’ as anyone who, either personally or through a close family member, friend, or loved one, has previously or currently uses substances, has a substance use disorder, or has been significantly impacted by the effects of substance use.

Waitlist: A waitlist option is available within registration if you would like to send more representatives from your county. After registration has closed, we will reach out to counties based on when registration was completed, and capacity limits. If you have questions about your status on the waitlist, please contact Danielle Pellino (dpellino@nysacho.org) and Laura Gibson (lgibson@nysacho.org).



Format: This event is in-person only – a virtual attendance option will NOT be available for the full event. However, NYSACHO and NYSDOH reserve the right to modify the symposium format as needed and may choose to offer a virtual viewing option for select sessions based on their topic and relevance. Any updates regarding virtual session availability will be communicated in advance.

Overnight Rooms

NYSACHO will cover two overnight rooms for each LHD representative on 11/17. To accommodate individuals travelling more than 3 hours to this event, overnight rooms on 11/16 will be made available – a list of counties eligible for overnight rooms on 11/16 is below. NYSACHO will make all overnight reservations on behalf of registrants – please do not contact the hotel directly regarding your reservation! Upon check-in, you will be asked to provide a credit card to cover any incidental fees or room services charges.

NYSDOH Staff – NYSACHO will make all reservations on behalf of NYSDOH staff, but NYSDOH staff will be required to provide payment and their tax-exemption form upon check-in.

Counties eligible for 2 overnight rooms for 2 nights (check-in 11/16, check-out 11/18)

• Allegany
• Cattaraugus
• Chautauqua
• Chemung
• Erie
• Franklin
• Genesee
• Jefferson
• Livingston
• Monroe
• Nassau
• Niagara
• NYC Dept of Health & Mental Hygiene
• Ontario
• Orleans
• Schuyler
• St. Lawrence
• Steuben
• Suffolk
• Tompkins
• Wayne
• Wyoming
• Yates 

Hotel Information:

Event Venue: Hilton Garden Inn Troy (235 Hoosick St., Troy NY 12180)

Check In: 3:00 pm Check Out: 12:00 pm

Parking: Complimentary self-parking will be provided in the on-site parking lot.

Food & Refreshments (Subject to Change)

Coffee will be available throughout the conference. The following meals will be provided during the conference:

• Day 1 (Nov. 17)– Lunch will be provided.

Attendees will be responsible for any meals purchased outside of the meeting. A list of local restaurants and cafes will be included in the conference program!

Costs

The following costs will be covered by NYSACHO (Note: There is no registration fee for this event):

• Attendance for two LHD representatives (including their identified community partners)
• Attendance for NYSDOH staff
• Coffee & Tea
• Meals as follows:
• Day 1 (11/17): lunch
• Overnight accommodations for two LHD representatives

The following costs will not be covered by NYSACHO and will be at the expense of the attendee:

• Travel to and from the event
• If possible, we encourage LHDs and identified community partners to carpool to the symposium.
• Meals beyond what will be provided at the event
• Breakfast on Day 2- The hotel offers a $12.50 breakfast buffet for all hotel guests.
• Lunch on Day 2- The meeting will conclude at lunchtime so attendees will be on their own.
• Overnight accommodations for NYSDOH staff

Note: We aim to ensure that cost is not a barrier to attendance. If you have significant financial concerns, please contact Danielle Pellino (dpellino@nysacho.org).

Photo & Video Consent

By registering for this event, you consent to NYSACHO's use of photographs, video recordings, and other media captured during the event for promotional and communications purposes.

Registration deadline: October 2, 2026