Presented at the Harm Reduction International Conference (HR19), Porto, Portugal 2019. <p>Amidst one of the most significant public health emergencies, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) recognized the need to address the growing and changing needs of youth accessing services within Vancouver. The Opioid Crisis, followed by a Provincial inquiry into the death of a youth aging out of Government Care highlighted the fact that although youth were connected to the appropriate services, they continued to fall through the cracks of the system, potentially leading to dire outcomes. The response from VCH was threefold: 1) to redefine harm reduction services for youth, 2) to bridge gaps in service which would create continuity of care, and 3) to collaborate across services to create the best outcomes for youth.</p>
