In late May we held a joint graduation ceremony for the Spring graduates of both Women Involved in Life Learning from Other Women (WILLOW) and Transgender Women Involved in Strategies for Transformation (TWIST). These are two of Alliance's most popular quarterly interventions and it was great to celebrate the graduates with food and music.
Positive Change Heroes: Eddie and Joel
1. Tell us a little about yourself, who you are, what you do, and what brought you to Alliance?
Eddie: I'm a 49-year-old Nuyorican from the Bronx. I served in the Marine Corps for several years. I'm a phlebotomist by trade, that's what I'm certified In.
My mother died in 1999 from complications from AIDS. She wasn't taking her medication. I wanted to work in this field to try to remove stigmas and make sure other people's mothers and loved ones got access to care.
I took a Peer training with N.Y.H.R.E in 2004 and worked in the field at pretty much every harm reduction provider in Harlem and the South Bronx. I started working at Alliance in 2020 as a case manager. I've provided HIV and hepatitis testing and linkage to care to thousands of people.
Joel: I’m a 32-year-old Puerto Rican from the Bronx, and I am the dad of a Siberian Husky named Henry. I was a client, got trained in Narcan use and overdose response, and decided to complete the CRPA (Certified Recovery Peer Advocate) training. I’ve been able to since get hired at Alliance to lead outreach efforts, counsel participants, and much more. I’m currently the Harm Reduction Manager at LESHRC.
2. Tell me about your current program/service and what problem it solves.
Eddie: As the Harm Reduction Coordinator at Alliance LES Harm Reduction Center, my job is to help people at all stages with all sorts of services. I've helped people find housing, find treatment for hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS, and of course with plenty of syringe exchange services. Narcan and fentanyl test strips trainings are a big part of my job. "I want you to quote me on this: no one should die because they used a drug."
Joel: I work on our Choices program which connects people who use opioids to harm reduction, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and recovery services. We do individual group counseling, support groups, events, and find what services in-house or with government programs can best serve people.
3. How has harm reduction changed since you've been working in the field?
Eddie: When I first started, we weren't even allowed to carry around Narcan, it was illegal. We faced all these arbitrary limits to what we could provide people who use drugs. Now, maybe because more of middle America is being affected by overdoses, people are waking up.
Joel: There has definitely been more access, and a lot more understanding of how important this work has been. Stats back up the importance of harm reduction, but they don’t tell the human experience, which I get to see firsthand how we help people. Harm reduction is all about meeting people where they are. After all, someone’s goals today might be different in a month, but just being consistently there for them feels really important.
4. What else should we—Alliance, and the greater harm reduction movement—be doing?
Eddie: There are some kiosks in the Bronx where groups I volunteer with where people can access sterile syringes and other harm reduction supplies. Before joining Alliance, I was working at BOOM!Health and was interviewed by Fox 5 News’ Lisa Evers. I trained her in how to use Narcan. I think more media trainings, like Joel recently did for The New York Times, and informational projects like Who’s Got Narcan? , a video two professional filmmakers helped us develop.
Joel: Having the conversation and making those services available is essential. Many people are afraid of losing access to services, so creating a safe space where they can talk about anything with their case managers, can help them with not just their harm reduction and substance use, but all around physical and behavioral well-being.
5. Is there an achievement or contribution to this program you are particularly proud of?
Eddie: I think with my years of experience, I bring a level of calm and confidence to the syringe center. I think people can see my passion for the work, which Is good for staff and participants. We're not pushing our opinions on people. I make it my business that whenever we get a new volunteer, I give them a thorough training. People come to us high, and sometimes overdose in the office, so we have to be ready. We’ve saved a lot of lives at our office, and I’ve saved a lot of lives out of the office too.
Joel: Kicking off, we had a staff shortage that we’ve fortunately filled since, but I heard from a lot of participants how they’ve felt safer knowing they could talk to me, and I’d help them with things like enrolling in Suboxone, getting proper safer use supplies, benefits navigation, and more.
6. If you could do anything in addition to what you are doing now, what would it be?
Eddie: I think I'd still be doing this! If I had a million dollars, maybe I'd have my own harm reduction center, with an overnight drop-In center, and an OPC, maybe even a 24/7 center so people could have a safe place to stay overnight.
Joel: I would open a Husky rescue farm for dogs. And something that I’ve actually been discussing with Tom and Reilly here is a program where people can come foster their pets while they seek treatment. A lot of people using drugs may not have any family besides their dogs, and are hesitant to check into an in-patient treatment program because they don’t want to give up their family—their pet.
7. Tell me about who you are and what you enjoy outside of work
Eddie: I'm a proud girl dad. I've got a 14-year-old daughter, and two grown children. I'm a big Yankees and Giants fan. I love movies. Typical middle aged New York dad.
Joel: I’m from the Bronx and love giving back to my community. I love taking Henry outside during this beautiful weather. And of course keeping strong bonds with my friends & family.
Director of Administration Brooke Montes Named Notable Leader in Health Care
Crain’s New York Business has selected Alliance for Positive Change Director of Administration Brooke Montes as a 2023 Notable in Health Care, noting that this year’s honorees’ “work is vital to the functioning of the city’s health care system and the city itself.”
You can view the full list here (subscription required for access) - https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/notable-2023-leaders-health-care
In its recognition of Brooke Montes, Crain’s described Alliance’s commitment to supporting New Yorkers with chronic conditions, including issue advocacy and responsible budgeting.
“Montes drives the organization’s mission by supporting the efforts of the executive team and board with advocacy, business administration, communications, project management and program oversight. Montes meets with legislators and speaks out to ensure continued access to such services for under-resourced communities.”
Brooke Montes began as an intern at Alliance 15 years ago. She has translated her passion for social justice and health promotion into a decade-plus-long career, supporting New Yorkers on their chosen pathway to positive change.
Alliance Responds to the 2023 NYS Budget
As you may be aware, on May 3, 2023, the New York State budget finally passed. Despite extraordinary advocacy by Alliance for Positive Change and other community health providers, the Hochul administration and NYS Department of Health implemented a disastrous Medicaid pharmacy benefit “carve-out,” drastically cutting essential funding to Alliance and other safety-net health providers.
We are outraged, BUT WE ARE NOT DISHEARTENED. We did everything in our power to fight—and will never stop fighting for our community’s equitable access to health resources.
Thank you for standing with Alliance and our allies as we fought to prevent this ill-advised policy decision. You responded to our action alerts with calls, emails, and generous support. We are grateful for you—and for our amazing community of providers, advocates, and coalitions.
So what comes next? Alliance and other safety-net providers will step up to fill the void, despite the challenges. Thanks to our collective advocacy, the NYS budget includes nearly $300 million in “reinvestment pools” to be directed to providers like Alliance for Positive Change. These monies in no way compensate for the lost funding, but they’ll enable Alliance and others to continue care coordination, patient navigation, treatment adherence support, and other lifesaving services. And we will hold the Governor and NYS Health Department accountable to follow through on their commitments. Learn more here.
Alliance for Positive Change has 30+ years at the forefront of HIV services, harm reduction, and other urgent yet underfunded health priorities—we are resilient, and we will weather this storm.
Thanks for standing with us as we continue fighting for the equitable health services our communities deserve. Read all about our recent work and achievements in Alliance’s 2022 Impact Update!
Director of Recovery Services Dr. Peter Boutros Speaks on FDA Narcan Ruling
Following the FDA's decision to allow Narcan to be sold over the counter, Dr. Peter Boutros spoke to Bronxnet about the benefits of making the life-saving medicine more accessible, and how people can get it and harm reduction supplies from our community centers for free. Alliance hosts weekly virtual Narcan trainings on Fridays at 11:00am. Read your training at https://alliance.nyc/events?tag=Virtual+Narcan+Training
Unveiling Situations 22 Poetry Anthology
At the Voices poetry reading held at Barnes & Nobel on Thursday, April 20, Alliance unveiled the newest edition of our annual poetry anthology, Situations 22. Featuring the work of Situations staples as well as poets published for the first time, Situations 22 is a must read.
Joel Teron, Harm Reduction Manager, Quoted in Crain's New York Health Pulse
Last week, Crain’s New York Health Pulse published a thorough examination of the effects of the FDA’s ruling to make Narcan legal for over the counter sale. Crain’s spoke to experts across the harm reduction and advocacy spaces, including our friends at VOCAL-NY, and our very own harm reduction manager Joel Teron. Read some of Joel’s insights below:
“Joel Teron, harm reduction manager at the Alliance Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center, said that over-the-counter access to Narcan “reaches an entirely different market,” as people who may be hesitant to access services at harm reduction facilities may be more comfortable walking into a drug store and picking Narcan up off the shelf.
Teron added that it remains to be seen how pharmacies will provide information and resources to people about how to use Narcan. Alliance LES Harm Reduction Center has been providing people with free Narcan and naloxone medications for years, providing training about how to administer the treatment, he said.”
Chief Program Officer Ramona Cummings Speaks with Paper Mag about Narcan OTC Ruling
Ramona Cummings, Chief Programing Officer of Prevention Services at Alliance, spoke with Paper Mag last week about the FDA’s approval to make Narcan over the counter (effective soon.) Ramona celebrated the removal of more barriers to the life-saving medication, and discussed the important role of culturally-competent community providers that offer Narcan as one of many tools in the harm reduction toolkiit, alongside fentanyl test strips, harm reduction counseling, and more.
"Many individuals addressing substance use issues have dealt with a great deal of stigma from providers," said Ramona. "Not just pharmacists, but the medical community in general…The FDA approval is a step in the right direction and an opportunity to open more conversations about the value of harm reduction services, and the availability of choices for participants.”
Alliance for Positive Change Statement on FDA’s Approval of OTC Narcan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 29, 2023
Contacts: Sophie Crumpacker, sophie@anatgerstein.com, 347-361-7128 // Lauren Mannerberg, lauren@anatgerstein.com, 929-553-7702
(New York, NY)- Alliance for Positive Change issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to make Narcan, a medication that rapidly reverses opioid overdoses, available over the counter:
“Alliance for Positive Change applauds the Federal Drug Administration’s decision to make Narcan available without a prescription. In New York City, the overdose crisis has reached historic levels—2,668 individuals died of a drug overdose in 2021, an increase of 78 percent since 2019 and 27 percent since 2020. We know that getting this safe and easy-to-use medication into the hands of more New Yorkers will save lives.
However, people who do not have the resources to purchase Narcan will likely continue to face barriers to accessing it. We hope that over-the-counter Narcan will be covered by private and public insurance plans, and that this decision motivates local and federal leaders to invest in programs that provide free harm reduction resources in communities most impacted by the overdose crisis. At the Alliance LES Harm Reduction Center, we are proud to provide free Narcan trainings and kits to equip thousands of people to administer it in the event of an overdose. Community providers like Alliance will continue to play a critical role in providing free, culturally competent, nonjudgmental harm reduction services, including Narcan.
Finally, Narcan is just one tool in a suite of harm reduction options that are often misunderstood or stigmatized. We hope this decision will lead to expanded access to other evidence-based interventions, like fentanyl test strips and syringe exchanges.”
About Alliance for Positive Change
Alliance for Positive Change is a leading multiservice organization that provides low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic conditions with access to quality health care, housing, harm reduction, coaching, and our renowned peer training and job placement program that cultivates leadership and economic mobility. Alliance opened in 1991, at the height of the HIV crisis—a welcoming community of transformation and opportunity. Today, we deliver on the promise of Positive Change with services and resources that equip people to navigate systemic inequities and achieve health and well-being. Learn about all the ways we inspire Positive Change at www.alliance.nyc.
Alliance Joins The Bronx Social Justice and Anti-Violence Forums to Discuss 340B Pharmacy Carveout
Alliance’s Program Manager of Criminal Justice Initiative, Eugene Eppes, and Director of Administration, Brooke Montes spoke with host Daren Jaime about how the 340B pharmacy carveout threatens public health, as well as how to make your voice heard before the deadline of April 1.
“Health inquiries were really exacerbated and highlighted during the pandemic, so to take [the pharmacy benefit] from the people who need it, who were the hardest hit from the pandemic,” explains Brooke. “Our very own Senator Rivera of the Bronx has introduced a bill, S5136, and our Health Chairs in the Senate and the Assembly have put a rejection in the one house budget." Supporters are encouraged to contact their legislators and urge them to reject the carveout today.