Supporting Sex Workers: A Training on Equity, Safety, and Services | Maryland Addiction and Behavioral-health Professionals Certification Board

Overview

This training centers the voices and needs of sex workers, promotes safety, and

provides professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to deliver

nonjudgmental, trauma-informed mentoring and education that supports dignity and

empowerment.

Training Hours by Domain

Mentoring / Education 2.00 hrs

Total Hours 2.00

Applies to Certifications

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS)

Location: United States
Total Hours: 2 CEU Hours
Dates: Dec 12, 2025
Price: Free
Instructor(s): Marisa Shields, MPH, RPS

Marisa is the Harm Reduction Program Coordinator at the Frederick County Health
Department in Frederick, Maryland. In this role, Marisa is responsible for coordinating
various harm reduction programs and services, including the Syringe Services Program,
Overdose Response Training Program, ACCESS Telehealth (in partnership with Johns
Hopkins, and Rapid Analysis of Drugs (RAD). Marisa is a Registered Peer Supervisor
overseeing a team of Peer Recovery Specialists and a Harm Reduction Nurse within
these programs. Marisa is a Bloomberg Fellow with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg
School of Public Health in the focus area of Addiciton and Overdose.

David A. Washington, LCSW-C, LCADC

David A. Washington has been in the field of substance use disorder treatment since 1989. In 2000 he left The Johns Hopkins Program of Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies and was hired as a Trauma Specialist through the Department of Mental Hygiene, Division of Special Needs Populations in Maryland. Since that time, Mr. Washington has worked to advance the field of trauma services in the criminal justice system. He is a presenter with the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, Harm Reduction Practitioner for the State of Maryland and a therapist at The Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being. One highlight of his early training was his acceptance to study with Dr. Francine Shapiro to learn Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. He has presented at numerous conferences and trainings on trauma- informed care, trauma-specific services and has sat on panel discussions as well as Webinars. His most notable presentations are: The National GAINS Center for People with Co-Occurring Disorders in the Justice System; The American Psychological Association Conference in San Francisco, California, as well as doing a Regional training throughout California; The Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Annual Conference; and the lunch speaker for The Gender Matters, Men Matters Conference in Colorado. While Mr. Washington has conducted groups for both men and women, he specializes in working with male trauma survivors involved with the criminal justice system. He is currently working with males across the country to increase the understanding, interventions and implementation of trauma-informed services for males involved in behavioral health settings and is a member of the Bristlecone Project. “Working to foster an understanding of how childhood trauma impacts an individual is my purpose in life. I can think of no better way of being of service to mankind.”
Website: https://washcohealth.org/