HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12142004 - C133-C134 V.
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BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CONTRA COSTA
COUNTY
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From: William B.Walker, M.D. • -el
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Health Services Director
Date: December 14, 2004
Subj ect: EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND AUTHORIZATION OF THE COUNTY
HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN SUPPORT FOR NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
Recommendation:
CONTINUE with the emergency action originally taken by the Board on December 14, 1999 based on
the increasing/epidemic number of AIDS/HIV and Hepatitis C cases among injection drug users in
Contra Costa County.
Background:
Con tin u ed Need for Em ergen cy
The spread of disease, particularly HIV and Hepatitis C, through the sharing of needles continues to be
a grave concern in Contra Costa County. 30% of all people living with AIDS in Contra Costa were
infected by injection drug use with the highest number of AIDS cases in West County. As of December
1997, Richmond had the highest cumulative incidence of AIDS (4.8 per 1000 population) among
Contra Costa cities, with at least 50 cases. Injection drug use was the estimated anode of infection
among 40% of all individuals diagnosed with AIDS in Richmond. Among Afiican Americans diagnosed
with AIDS in Richmond 1982-1998 53%were most likely infected through injection drug use.
Contra Costa Health Services does not currently provide needle exchange services (it is prohibited from
doing so absent a declared public health emergency). CCHS does provide services focused on injection
drug users including: 1-HIV/AIDS Outreach and Education, 2-1-HV antibody testing, 3-Substance
Abuse Treatment, 4-Health on Wheels Van, and 5-Substance Abuse Counseling and Treatment for
HIV-infected clients.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
✓y'RECOMAiNDATION OF COUN'T'Y ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD CONEM=E
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S).
ACTION OF BOAF6 N �" APPROVEDS
aLZ A RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
/ I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT - AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
AYES: NOES: OF SUPERVI ORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ABSENT: ABSTAIN,
ATTESTED
JOHN SWEETEN, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Contact Person: Wendel Brunner, M.D. 313-6712
CC: Health Services Director
Public Health Administration
BY DEPUTY
M
Board of Supervisors Page 2
Emergency Declaration for Support of Needle Exchange Programs
Exchange Works, a community-based needle exchange service currently in operation in Contra Costa
currently distributes clean needles on a one-to-one basis. Their volunteer staff currently exchange
5,000 needles per week at two sites. There are no established needle exchange program in East or
Central County.
PROGRESS SINCE EMERGENCE'DECLARA TION ON DECEMBER 14, 1999
At the Board of Supervisors December 14, 1999 meeting, CCHS was directed to take four actions. As
of January 7, 2000 the following has been completed:
• CCHS has entered into discussions with Exchange Works in West County.
• Supplies for the ongoing provision of the services have been identified.
• CCHS staff have been identified to assist with the provision of information and referrals.
• Documentation forms are being reviewed and revised as necessary to ensure that specific
information is available to the Board.
• Planning for an East County process will begin later this quarter after the preliminary process in
West County is completed.
. Additional Background Text for Continuous Emergency Declaration
for Support of Needle Exchange Programs
Public Health Division,AIDS Program
Contact: Christine Leivermann, 5-6786
• February 11, 2003 —Board order submitted to recommend and accept"The Status of HIV
Prevention Efforts in Contra Costa County"report to the Board of Supervisors.
• February 26, 2003 —report submitted to the Family and Human Services Committee, "Options
for Continuing Needle Exchange for HIV Prevention" .
• March 3, 2003 —report submitted to the Family and Human Services Committee "Needle
Exchange Follow-up Report— Strategies to Support the Non-Direct Costs of Needle
Exchange".
• .April 16, 2003 —report submitted to the Family and Human Services Committee, "Activities to
Maintain Threshold Needle Exchange Services in Contra Costa County" (4/21/03).
• July 28, 2003 —report submitted to the Family and Human Services Committee, "Further
Options for Continuing Needle Exchange for HIV Prevention".
• September 9, 2003 —Board of Supervisors accepted Health Services reports of April 16 and
July 28, and approved a one-year contract with Community Health Empowerment (CHE) to
provide needle exchange and HIV prevention services; Contract#22877 with Opportunity West
(fiscal agent for CHE); contract term 9/1/03 — 8/31/04.
Bo:bos needle exchange update 304