HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10122004 - C65 To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ry CONTRA COSTA
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From: William B.Walker, M.D. °rig• L.., ,
Health Services Director
Date: October 12, 2004
Subject: EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND AUTHORIZATION OF THE COUNTY
HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN SUPPORT FOR NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
Recommendation:
CONTI1,43E 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.
Backaround:
Con tin ued'Need for Emergencyy
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 mode of infection
among 40%Q of all individuals diagnosed with AIDS in Richmond. Among African 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-HIV antibody testing, 3-Substance
Abuse Treatment, 4-Health on Wheels 'Van, and 5-Substance Abuse Counseling and Treatment for
HIV-infected clients.
CONTINUED ON ATTACIDAENT: YES sIGNATLYRE:
,`'RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COT INff TF-E
•---APPRO OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
�JNTHE ACTION OF BOARAPPROVED AS RECOM�vMNDED OR
r .
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS I (ABSENT�%w '--'� AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINtTI'ES OF THE BOARD
AYES: NOES: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
ATTESTED 0(2 2
JOHN SWEETEN, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINTSTRATOR
Contact Person: 'Wendel.Brunner,M.D. 313-6712
CC: Health Services Director
Public Health.Administration
By' �` ', .,# ( L..> , DEPUTY
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 EME'RGENCYDECLARATION ONDECEMBER 14, 1999
At the Board of Supervisors December 14, 1999 meeting, CCHS was directed to take four actions. As
of January 7, 2400 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 prevision 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 Excharig�_Progarns
Public Health Division,AIDS Program
Contact:Christine Leivermann,5-6786
• February 11, 2003 -Beard 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/l/03 - 8/31/04.
Bwbos needle exchange update 304