Alliance custom social media posts and call scripts to NYS officials to pass Safer Consumption Services Act expanding OPCs

We need your assistance raising awareness about the urgency of authorizing Overdose Prevention Centers (OPCs) and saving lives in New York State.

Overdose death rates are at an unprecedented high in the United States and New York State. The first authorized OPCs in the United States opened in New York City on November 30, 2021. Hundreds of lives have already been saved in the NYC facilities, proving that they can and must be expanded in high needs areas across New York.

In order to do so, New York State must pass the Safer Consumption Services Act (S603/A224), also known as SCSA. SCSA allows local health departments and the New York State Department of Health to authorize community-based organizations to operate OPCs. This legislation extends immunity to participants, staff members, and property owners from arrest, charges, and prosecution for criminal offenses and penalties for their participation or involvement in approved OPC programs.

Here’s how you can help:

1) Call your Senator and Assembly Member and urge them to co-sponsor Bill S603/A224. You can find your representatives phone number by clicking the links (find your Senator and Assembly Member) and entering your address. Here is a sample script when making your calls:

Hi my name is ________ and I am calling about Overdose Prevention Centers – also known as OPCs – and saving lives in New York State. Hundreds of lives have already been saved in the two NYC OPCs, proving that they can and must be expanded in high needs areas across New York.

In order to do so, New York State must pass the Safer Consumption Services Act and I am calling to ask you co-sponsor Bill S603/A224.

OPCs are controlled health care settings where people can more safely use pre-obtained drugs under clinical supervision and receive health care, counseling, and referrals to health and social services, including drug treatment. OPCs are important because they prevent fatal overdose especially for high-risk populations.

As a service provider working on the front lines of New York overdose crisis, I urge the New York State legislature to urgently pass S603/A224 to authorize the Department of Health to work with local health departments to implement Overdose Prevention Centers in high need areas across New York State.

Thank you.

2) Tweet your support for S603/A224 and post across social media, either writing the name of your State Senator and Assembly member, or, if they have a public social media page, tagging them. We have two draft posts below, which can be customized however you see fit:

A) Since NYC opened #OverdosePreventionCenters, hundreds of overdoses have been reversed and countless New Yorkers have received important health referrals. [OUR SENATOR] and [YOUR ASSEMBLY MEMBER] please pass S603/A224 #SaferConsumptionServicesAct

B) NYC #OverdosePreventionCenters have saved hundreds of lives, proving that they can and must be expanded in high needs areas across NY. [YOUR SENATOR] and [YOUR ASSEMBLY MEMBER] please pass S603/A224 #SaferConsumptionServicesAct

3) If you, a family member or someone you serve has been personally impacted by the overdose crisis you can also sign the letter of support for Bill (S603/A224). Please note, Alliance has already signed on as an organization so this would be a personal sign on.

Alliance’s Floyd Mitchell in Gotham Gazette

“I know what it’s like to be on the front lines of an infectious disease,” Floyd Mitchell, a harm reduction counselor at Alliance for Positive Change writes for the Gotham Gazette. “This time, it’s the twin tragedy of the dramatic rise in overdose deaths amid the pandemic due to the anxiety and isolation of life during lockdown.”

Beginning his career in harm reduction at the height of the HIV epidemic in the 1980’s, Floyd has seen it all, and understands the measures we must all take to support our neighbors battling substance use in these difficult times.

Alliance's “PATH to Jobs” Program Included in Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney’s Top Ten Requests For Community Project Funding

—Innovative workforce development program puts New Yorkers in need on path to economic mobility; now eligible for $1 million in federal funding—

(New York, N.Y.)—U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (New York’s 12th Congressional District) has selected Alliance for Positive Change’s “PATH to Jobs” peer workforce development program as one of the top ten projects she has submitted for federal Community Project Funding for FY2022. If chosen, the program will receive $1 million to vastly increase Alliance’s career readiness and job placement services, helping significantly more New Yorkers along their journeys toward recovery and economic independence.

“I thank Alliance for Positive Change and Sharen Duke, along with the entire dedicated staff, for hosting me at their facility,” Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney said. “Every aspect of the Alliance’s mission is deeply committed to improving the lives of New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. They have created an environment that both helps and heals adults of all ages and backgrounds who are struggling to secure healthcare, jobs services, and nutritional support. It is incumbent upon legislators like myself to support organizations like Alliance for Positive Change and ensure they get the funding they need to continue the great work they are doing to help the people of New York City, especially as we recover from the COVID-19 crisis.”

“I am fiercely proud and often awed by the courage and tenacity of our Peers, making positive changes in their own lives, and then ‘paying it forward’ to help others,” said Sharen I. Duke, Alliance CEO & Executive Director. “Alliance is profoundly grateful for Congresswoman Maloney’s leadership and dedication to New Yorkers, and honored by the Congresswoman’s visit to Alliance, seeing us in action, and meeting the Peers who partner with us to provide training and support through the PATH to Jobs program.”

Founded 30 years ago amid the early years of the AIDS epidemic, Alliance serves low-income New Yorkers with a range of chronic health conditions and substance use challenges, offering them medical care, harm reduction, peer support, and housing assistance in their path towards health and stability. Since 1992, Alliance’s PATH to Jobs has provided career readiness and job placement services, including vocational education, coaching, supervision, training, benefits counseling about the impact of employment on public entitlements, and support in successfully attaining and sustaining employment. 

Graduates of this program find job placement opportunities in health and social service agencies across New York, and at Alliance—which has built its own Peer workforce, employing 130+ Peer workers trained by the program each year.

Scaling Alliance’s PATH to Jobs program will facilitate the creation of a centralized career readiness and job placement program across New York City. State certified Peer workers will be placed in part-time and full-time jobs in: managed care companies and Medicaid Health Homes; hospitals and community health centers; HIV service agencies; STD clinics; syringe exchange/opioid overdose prevention programs; substance use treatment clinics; supportive housing programs; and community-based organizations of all kinds.
 

About The Alliance for Positive Change

The Alliance for Positive Change supports lasting, positive change among low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. Focusing on underserved communities of color, our culturally competent, multilingual services remove structural barriers to accessing quality medical care, managing/overcoming substance use, escaping homelessness, and achieving economic mobility. We address the underlying issues that contribute to health inequity through individualized, full-service support based on a harm reduction approach designed to help New Yorkers lead healthier, more self-sufficient lives. Because everyone deserves the chance to feel better, live better, and do better. Learn more at www.alliance.nyc.

Alliance Executive Director/CEO Sharen Duke Selected as Crain’s Notable in Health Care

Crain’s New York Business has selected Alliance for Positive Change founding Executive Director and CEO Sharen Duke as a 2021 Notable in Health Care, noting that this year’s honorees “have distinguished themselves through their expertise and innovation.”

“We cannot understate the role of the city’s healthcare professionals in helping us emerge from the pandemic,” Crain’s wrote in introducing the honorees. “This year’s Notable in Healthcare edition recognizes their efforts in bringing us to this moment, as well as their numerous contributions apart from the crisis.”

You can view the full list here (subscription required for access) - https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/notable-health-care-2021 

In its recognition of Sharen Duke, Crain’s described Alliance’s commitment to supporting New Yorkers during the pandemic, including the delivery of personal protective equipment, pantry items, nutrition information and food gift cards.

“Throughout her tenure, Duke has supported equity in health care. Alliance serves historically marginalized communities of color. Duke has pioneered peer training, peer-delivered health-access services and workforce development for HIV prevention.”

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