Since continued funding was uncertain during the recent government shutdown, the SNAP program (Supplemental Nutrition Access Program, formerly known as food stamps) handed out February benefits in January. The caveat for recipients, however, was that they were expected to spread those benefits over six weeks instead of four–but for a hungry family, that can be a challenge. Now that the shutdown is over, clients may have gone through their SNAP funds already–and face a food shortage for the end of the month.
We weren’t about to sit back and let this happen, of course. HVCS is assisting clients in this situation through the food closet program. With support from generous donors, corporations and foundations, we’re offering our clients double the amount of food bags this month.
According to Hunger Solutions New York, which funds our Nutrition Outreach and Education Program, in March SNAP benefits will be issued early in order to assist SNAP participants to bridge the gap between the January payments and their regularly scheduled March benefits. All March SNAP benefits will be issued by March 7th.
We are committed to ensuring that clients and their families have enough nutritious food to eat no matter what happens in Washington.
As of February 1, 2019, our Project Reach Out mobile harm reduction units will also be offering free screenings for chlamydia and gonorrhea. The PRO staff, who travel in vans to areas of high need throughout the Hudson Valley, work primarily with people who are homeless or in unstable housing, and help them access the services they need to reduce the harm of drug use and their risk for HIV, Hepatitis C and STDs.
“We’re eager to offer these expanded services to PRO clients,” said Jennifer Brathwaite, HVCS’ Director of Education and Prevention. “These are two more ways we can help people with really high levels of need access care. Getting a free STD test can be an important step in empowering someone to protect their health, especially since these two STDs can often be asymptomatic. This testing program helps not only our clients but reduces the overall amount of STDs in our community.”
Chlamydia and gonorrhea infection rates in New York State have increased every year since 2013. Infection rates among African-Americans are disproportionately high, making up 23% of chlamydia rates and 33% of gonorrhea cases in 2017. These statistics further support the need for expanded STD testing in the vulnerable neighborhoods where PRO typically offers services.
Devan Marano shares her personal story at the Overdose Awareness Day observance in Newburgh.
On Friday, August 31, 2018, Hudson Valley Community Services partnered with Catholic Charities’ TEAM Newburgh to hold a local observance of International Overdose Awareness Day in front of HVCS’ Newburgh office.
International Overdose Awareness Day is an annual global event held on August 31st which aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable.
The opioid/heroin addiction crisis has had a profound impact on the Hudson Valley over the past few years. In 2016, 367 residents died from opioid overdoses according to the New York State Heroin and Opioid Task Force, and available data on the first three quarters of 2017 suggests similar totals for last year. The epidemic has had a lasting impact on friends, families and neighborhoods—not to mention those who struggle with addiction. HVCS, other healthcare and social support agencies, law enforcement, and local governments have committed resources to prevent overdose deaths, increase the number of residents who seek help for their addiction disorders, and stem the tide of this epidemic. This event was an opportunity to honor and remember those we have lost to addiction disorders via overdose, and continue to educate the community on available resources.
The Hudson Valley’s International Overdose Awareness Day event featured a forum for personal experience speakers, Narcan trainings, educational opportunities, tributes to those lost to overdose, a social media awareness wall, activities to engage children and youth, and free snacks.
Hudson Valley Community Services is excited to announce that we have joined Coordinated Behavioral Health Services (CBHS), an Independent Practice Association (IPA). CBHS is an association of Hudson Valley providers which negotiates contracts for services directly with Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). (In case you’re unfamiliar with that term, an MCO is a health insurance company like MVP or Fidelis).
Joining an IPA will potentially allow us to reach more clients and tap into additional revenue streams not available to us otherwise. Participating in an IPA also gives us a lot more visibility within the community and strengthens our connections. Finally, IPA membership will offer us new training opportunities.
“As healthcare systems become more and more aware of how a patient’s home, life and social networks fit into their healthcare, they’re turning to agencies like HVCS,” said Andrea Straus, HVCS’ Executive Director. “We call these factors the ‘social determinants of health.’ Joining CBHS enables us to remain competitive and help more clients reach their full potential.”
Stay tuned for more information as our collaboration with the other members within the CBHS association develops over time.
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You’re invited to an open house to celebrate our move to a new Kingston office! Our Kingston office has combined with our Lake Katrine office into one beautiful, bright new space. Please join us on Thursday, April 12, 2018 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm for an open house. We’ll have light refreshments, beverages and a very special dessert buffet. Drop in any time between 4:00 and 6:00 pm for a tour and to learn more about our services in Ulster County.
Our new Ulster County office is located across the parking lot from our old location, at 144 Pine Street, Suite 230.
Please RSVP to Christina at (845) 339-3281 or by email.
Watch Spectrum News’ video interview with our J. Dewey here.
From the article:
“Ending the HIV epidemic across the state is a collaborative effort, and recent data statewide and in the Hudson Valley indicates that progess is being made.
“The work in order to be responsive as you saw in the data is a complement of our partnerships between city between state between elected officials and our community stakeholders,” said Johanne Morne, director of the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute.
The department of health held a summit on Wednesday in Albany to connect those involved in combating the epidemic with new information and resources. Morne says that working with communities and identifying needs, as well as understanding social and structural challenges and barriers for different communities, is a major part of their work.
“It’s our responsibility, as I talked about, for us to look for those opportunities not only to provide access to care, but to be sure we create environments that are welcoming and responsive to the people who most need access to prevention and healthcare support,” said Morne.
In the Hudson Valley, providing that access to care falls to many organizations, including Hudson Valley Community Services. In the mid-Hudson region, the trends for new HIV infections are hopeful.
“The news for HIV infections in the Hudson Valley is that the rate of infection is finally going down,” said J. Dewey, public relations & resource enhancement director for Hudson Valley Community Services.”
Thanks to reporter Orie Givens for reaching out to us.
In case you missed this week’s big news from Albany, Gov. Cuomo announced that estimates of new HIV infections for 2014 show a decrease of 41% from 2006. Estimated new HIV infections were fewer than 2,500 for the first time. The estimated HIV incidence rate (that is, the rate of people living with HIV, per 10,000 residents) fell 43% since 2006.
New estimates also report that 123,000 New Yorkers live with HIV, as of the end of 2014. About 10,000 do not yet know they are HIV-positive (8%). While this is good news overall, the report also estimates that only 62% of HIVers are virally suppressed (they have an undetectable viral load) and are, theoretically, incapable of infecting others. NYS would like to increase this percentage while continuing to decrease new infections to less than 750 per year by 2020.
Gov. Cuomo also announced an additional $4 million in funding to spread awareness of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). The NYS Department of Health unveiled new videos to educate the public about PrEP and a new website, PrEPforSex.org.
HVCS’ Board of Directors is pleased to announce a new slate of officers, including a new Board President. Andrew S. Evans, Jr. took the helm after former chair Paul Callagy decided to step down. “HVCS’ Board is in a terrific place,” Paul said during his resignation speech. “We have a new, energized membership, and it’s time for some new leadership.” Paul served on the Board for eighteen years and was President for over fifteen years.
Andrew Evans works for the Dutchess County Department of Health. He joined the Board in 2012, and he lives in Beacon. The other newly-elected officers include Vice President Michael J. Hall, a Milton resident and a professor at Dutchess Community College. Aretha Thompson was elected as Secretary; she is a manager at Citizens Bank and lives in Beacon. Another Beacon resident, Andrew Bell, was elected as Treasurer. He works as a financial consultant for Global Employment Solutions/IBM.
Congratulations to the new Board officers, and we send our sincerest appreciation and gratitude to Paul Callagy for so many years of dedicated service.
While we’d much rather talk about new programs and services, sometimes we must share unfortunate news. As of March 31, 2015, HVCS will no longer offer trainings and webinars as a part of the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute HIV Training and Education Program. It’s been a pleasure serving the Hudson Valley human service provider community and everyone in the field of HIV/STI and Viral Hepatitis case management and prevention.
Going forward, Cicatelli Associates, Inc., based in Manhattan, will provide New York State AIDS Institute trainings for this region. Course listings and information can be found on The Department of Health website www.hivtrainingny.org, at the Cicatelli Associates, Inc. website www.caiglobal.org , or by telephone at 212-594-7741.
As per our privacy policy, HVCS will not share trainees’ contact information with Cicatelli Associates, Inc., so we encourage those interested in future trainings to reach out to them.
We hope that those who joined us for trainings will continue to partner with and make referrals to HVCS’ array of programs and services as needed. Our staff are always ready to assist service providers and their clients and patients with any necessary services. Watch for future e-mail notifications about HVCS’ programs and special events; you may unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks to those who came to our trainings for being wonderful training center participants over the years, and we wish you all the best to you and the people you serve.
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Since continued funding was uncertain during the recent government shutdown, the SNAP program (Supplemental Nutrition Access Program, formerly known as food stamps) handed out February benefits in January. The caveat for recipients, however, was that they were expected to spread those benefits over six weeks instead of four–but for a hungry family, that can be a challenge. Now that the shutdown is over, clients may have gone through their SNAP funds already–and face a food shortage for the end of the month.
