working with/in health departments to promote harm reduction: cuellar, mclean, huriaux, thomas -...
DESCRIPTION
Larry Cuellar (Texas Department of State Health Services), Rachel McLean (California Department of Public Health), Emalie Huriaux, (San Francisco Department of Public Health), and Laura Thomas (Drug Policy Alliance) on harm reduction collaborations between community groups and health departments. Presented at the Harm Reduction Coalition's 8th National Conference, November 18-21, 2010 in Austin, Texas.TRANSCRIPT
Working w/in Health Working w/in Health Departments to Promote Departments to Promote
Harm ReductionHarm Reduction
Larry Cuellar, Texas Department of State Health ServicesRachel McLean, MPH, California Department of Public Health
Emalie Huriaux, MPH, San Francisco Department of Public HealthLaura Thomas, MPP, Drug Policy Alliance
8th National Harm Reduction Conference
November 19, 2010 Austin, Texas
What state and local health departments CAN do
• Fund programs • Validate best practices through guidelines, strategic plans, reports, conferences, research• Work with other government agencies
• Provide health information materials, expertise
• Mobilize communities to solve health problems
What state and local health departments CANNOT do
• Take public positions supporting or opposing: - legislation - budget cuts
- candidates - court decisions• Talk to the media without getting talking points cleared first by office of public affairs
What community-based organizations & individuals CAN do
• Ask for what you want • Hold government agencies accountable• Participate in community planning groups• Educate the press and policymakers • (Take public positions on legislation, etc.)
Ways health departments and CBOs can work TOGETHER
Health department leads Health department supports community
Community supports health department
Community leads
Examples: TEXAS
Why work with the health department?
• Statewide impact
• Access to additional resources
• Information network
• Disease surveillance (special studies)
• Access to epidemiologic expertise
Harm Reduction and the Texas State Health Department
• History of harm reduction initiatives in TX- Condom access- Syringe access- Other programs
• State Health Department policies & procedures- Permissible activities- Gray areas
- Non-permissible activities
Examples of Texas Health Department Activities
• Texas Viral Hepatitis Summits
• Hepatitis education and training activities
• Hepatitis awareness activities
Examples: California
California Adult Viral Hepatitis (VH) Prevention Strategic Plan, 2010-2014
Health department leads- Inviting government reps. (mental health, drug and alcohol, corrections, etc.)- Finalizing plan, coordi-nating implementation
Health department supports community- Drafting the plan
- Convening meetings
- Paying for space, facilitator, travel
Community supports health department- Approval for the plan- Media coverage for plan
Community leads- Sharing plan with media, legislature, policymakers
Plan: Harm Reduction-Specific Recommendations
• Research projects:– Pilot syringe access, safer tattooing in prisons– Pilot safer injection facilities– Effective HCV prevention strategies for young IDUs
• Programs:– Expanded HCV testing, hepatitis A/B vaccine access– Statewide viral hepatitis referral guide– Expanded syringe access programs
• Policies:– Ensure implementation of health reform addresses
health issues of uninsured individuals with chronic VH
Plan Implementation: Programs
Health department leads- Provider education w/ medical associations
Health department supports community- Funding for syringe exchange, HCV testing- Free hepatitis A/B vaccine- Referral guide contacts
Community supports health department- Community advisory group, clinical task force
Community leads- Service delivery- Fundraising to develop statewide VH referral guide
Plan Implementation: PoliciesHealth department leads
- Healthy People 2020 objectives on HCV testing, HBV vaccination- Analysis of health reform-Overview of viral hepatitis costs, epidemiology in CA
Health department supports community- Recommendations to HHS on health care reform implementation and VH
Community supports health department- Appointment, info. requests to CDPH Public Health Advisory Committee
Community leads
- CA Health Policy Forum on viral hepatitis- Syringe access legislation
Examples: San Francisco
What community-based organizations & individuals CAN do
• Ask for what you want • Hold government agencies accountable• Participate in community planning groups• Educate the press and policymakers • (Take public positions on legislation, etc.)
Questions for Discussion
• What has worked well in health department/community collaborations that you have been a part of?
• What surprised you?• What challenged you?• What did you learn?• How will you work differently with your
health department/community partners differently after this presentation?
Contact Information
Larry Cuellar
Adult Viral Hepatitis Prevention Coordinator
Texas Department of State Health Services
TB/HIV/STD Branch MC 1873
P.O. Box 149347
Austin, Texas 78714-9347
(512) 533-3124
Contact Information
Rachel McLean, MPHAdult Viral Hepatitis Prevention Coordinator
California Department of Public HealthSTD Control Branch
(510) [email protected]
www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/pages/ovhp.aspx
Contact information
Emalie Huriaux, MPHSan Francisco Department of Public HealthCommunity Behavioral Health Services &
HIV Prevention Section25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA [email protected]
415-437-4694 ph; 415-431-7154 faxwww.sfdph.org