Harlem Hepatitis C Task Force Meeting 7/14

Harlem Hepatitis C Task Force Meeting

Tuesday July 14th, 2:30-4:30

New York Public Library 115th Street Branch ~ 203 West 115th Street, Harlem 10026 – 3rd Floor

*RSVP would be very much appreciated!



Agenda

* If you would like to add an agenda item or make an announcement at the Task Force meeting, please respond to this email as soon as possible



Guest Speaker

Wesley E. Badillo, MD, MPH, Coordinator Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP), NYS Department of Health AIDS Institute

Expanding Biohazard - Sharps Collection in NYC

The Harlem HCV Task Force is working on expanding biohazard collection in NYC to reduce community HCV transmission.

· The NYS Safe Sharps Collection Program –part of the Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP). Presentation will provide information and how to apply for this program in which, pharmacies, health clinics, community-based organizations, public transportation facilities, housing projects, police stations, shelters and other venues have become settings for safe sharps collection.



Harlem Task Force Project Presentations

· Hepatitis C Validated Risk Assessment Card ~ a pilot run has been printed and will be distributed

· Hepatitis C Fact “Palm Card” ~ a pilot run has been printed and will be distributed

· Orasure HCV Rapid Test Field Trial (not yet FDA approved) ~ Discussion from the field by Donald Davis, NY Harm Reduction Educators

· Syringe Exchange Program & Law Enforcement Relationship Building Initiative ~ Update by Emma Roberts , Harlem United – FROST’D

o Filing Incident Reports

o Operations Order #19 Card: SEP Participant Rights and Responsibilities

o Training for SEP Program Participants: Conflict Resolution Skill Building

o Training for Law Enforcement

· Hepatitis C Referral Pathway Map and Linkage Agreements

o Harlem Hepatitis C Resource Directory

o Harlem Hepatitis C Services Google Map!

o Working together through the referral pathway map committee

· Poetry Workshops for Harm Reduction & Recovery ~ Update

· www.InSpot.org ~ Update. Hepatitis A, B & C and needle sharing partner, and language translations have been added.

· NYC Hepatitis C Task Force Google Group has been created!

o HCV Services Google Map

o HCV Task Force Calendar

o Shared Documents

o Newsletters & meeting minutes

o Discussions



Task Force Projects Underway in other Boroughs

Health Outreach Worker Hepatitis C Training & Outreach Blitz Day (4 hours CASAC credit) ( Brooklyn )
Legislative Awareness Day with Chris Kennedy Lawford (Queens & All Boroughs)


Hepatitis C Advocacy Opportunities

Harm Reduction Coalition ~ Ongoing advocacy opportunities
HepC United ~ National HCV Advocacy Group
NASTAD Prevention Bulletin ~ Public Policy Updates
The New York Immigration Coalition ~ Health Care Access Division
Status C Unknown ~ Legislative awareness and New York State funding advocacy group
VOCAL ~ NY Users Union ~ Organizing active & once active drug users and their allies to fight for fair drug laws and access to services


Community Announcements





Nirah Johnson, LMSW ~ Community Projects Specialist

NYC DOHMH, Office of Viral Hepatitis Coordination

(212) 341-0432 ~ njohnso2@health.nyc.gov