Posts Tagged ‘Westchester’
Westchester Pride
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022Westchester Street Outreach Team Has A New Van
Friday, February 4th, 2022
Our Project Reach Out street outreach program has a brand-new van! Despite a rain storm, staff gathered in the parking lot at our Hawthorne office to christen the new vehicle, which was specially outfitted just for us. The van was partially funded by the NYSDOH AIDS Institute and administrative reserves. Hudson Valley Credit Union provided additional funding to make this a reality for us and our clients in Westchester’s urban areas. PRO provides HIV and STD testing, referrals to critical health and support services, and was recently approved as a syringe access program. We look forward to serving more clients than ever before.
Giving Tuesday 2021
Monday, May 3rd, 2021Giving Tuesday is an annual day of online philanthropy, organized to remind people that the holidays are all about giving.
Hudson Valley Community Services saves and improves lives, even while we all cope with ongoing pandemics.
We are only able to be there for our vulnerable clients because of your help. You make this Hudson Valley a kinder, more compassionate place.
Syringe Exchange Expands Into Westchester
Monday, January 11th, 2021
Since the 1980’s, HVCS has provided services throughout Westchester County to people who use drugs, including HIV, STD and Hepatitis C prevention and education, HIV and STD testing, linkage to substance use disorder treatment services, and, when possible, emergency food and supplies. Many of these specific services were provided by our Project Reach Out program (PRO), which travels to Westchester’s urban areas—places hit hardest by the double HIV and opioid epidemics.
We were just approved to offer what is called “second tier syringe exchange” services via our PRO staff. They will be able to provide access to syringes, recoupment of used syringes, Narcan trainings, referrals to treatment, and information about prevention services to people who use drugs (PWUD). This is a form of “peer-delivered” services, where staff are permitted to carry out exchanges wherever they are, without being fixed to a particular location like our other syringe exchange programs in Rockland and in the Mid-Hudson.
This is a significant enhancement to the PRO program and a boon to Westchester’s PWUD population. By being embedded in the community and gaining clients’ trust, we aim to refer even more people to substance use treatment facilities and other services than ever before.
Hawthorne office closed
Wednesday, November 4th, 2020Our Hawthorne office will be closed on Thursday, November 5th, Thursday, November 6th, and Thursday November 12th.
All HVCS offices are closed on Wednesdays. Staff are available by phone and email.
Hawthorne Office Closed
Thursday, October 29th, 2020Our Hawthorne office will be closed on Friday, October 30, 2020.
Westchester Pride Virtual Kick-off
Friday, June 5th, 2020Come and join The LOFT as we kick-off Westchester Pride!
You can join using either ZOOM or Facebook Live.
We’ll have live performances from Broadway Sings for Pride!
We’ll also hear messages from our elected officials like US Senator-NY Kirsten Gillibrand. There will also be a live Q&A from Westchester County Executive, George Latimer and so much more!
Looking forward to seeing you!
Coronavirus Case in New Rochelle + Comparison to Flu Epidemic
Thursday, March 5th, 2020We received more Coronavirus information from an official press release from Westchester County. We’re sharing it to ensure we are providing you with relevant, non-repetitive news about the coronavirus.
- 1 resident of New Rochelle has tested positive for COVID-19 and he is currently in a New York City hospital. Officials are investigating his community contacts and travel patterns.
- If you have any concerns about COVID-19 please call 211 – they will have the most up-to-date information and they are here for you
- 8am – 10pm SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
- Please call them – use this resource
- If you think you are symptomatic – DO NOT GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM – YOU MUST CALL AHEAD BEFORE ARRIVAL.
- 12 residents are currently in voluntary quarantine in their homes.
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AS OF RIGHT NOW – STEPS TAKEN
- With Coronavirus spreading globally, the CDC has issued travel health notices. To date, residents should avoid nonessential travel to China, Iran, Italy and South Korea given the number of cases in these countries.
- Older residents and those with chronic medical conditions should consider also avoiding travel to Japan.
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WHAT CAN YOU/RESIDENTS DO
- Children are not overtly at risk
- Stay informed, calm and don’t be alarmed
- Wash hands -at least 20 seconds with soap and water
- Stay home when sick
- Cover your mouth when cough or sneeze – elbow or tissue
- Clean with non-green products (i.e. bleach-based) [note: cleaning kits were distributed in our offices to help keep our offices cleaner]
- Get your flu shot
Some perspective from Cornerstone Family Healthcare’s Dr. Avi Silber, Chief Medical Officer:
It is important to view the Corona Virus in perspective. In the US in the ordinary 2019-2020 flu season so far,
- 32 million people have had flu illnesses
- 14 million have had flu medical visits
- 310,000 people have been hospitalized for the flu
- 18,000 people have died.
And these numbers are just in the US! Dr. Silber reemphasized the guidance that has already been provided and which is available in the easy-to-read flyers from the CDC. English Spanish
- Wash your hands and wipe down your work space
- If you have a fever and a cough, check with your medical provider, especially if you’re in a high risk group (elderly, diabetic, heart or lung disease)
- Stay home if you’re sick
All In A Day’s Work: Assisting a Client With Housing Issues
Tuesday, February 11th, 2020
Dora*, a Health Homes client since 2016, has active mental health issues and does not leave her basement apartment much. Dora’s apartment in Westchester County had not been renovated since she moved there in 2018, and she had problems with vermin and structural safety concerns. The kitchen floor tiles were loose, a large metal ladder in her living room was not bolted in and was unstable, and her food pantry had no door. This exacerbated the vermin problem. She also had no bars on her windows and lives in a tough neighborhood. Her oven had not worked correctly in months, forcing her to use a microwave for all meals. The landlord had not been responding to her many attempts to have these issues fixed.
After advocating for the client and assisting her with various paperwork, our Care Assistant, Chiffon, got the Urban League (a division of the Department of Social Services) to perform inspections. (Urban League now checks on Dora once a month, too.) The landlord was forced to replace her entire apartment’s floor with beautiful wood grain boards, address the safety concerns, replace her stove, and arrange for an exterminator service. Chiffon also arranged for Dora to receive a food delivery service and SNAP (formerly known as food stamps). Dora has expressed great satisfaction with Health Home services. Great job, Chiffon!
*Not her real name. Stock photo used for illustrative purposes.
Donors In The Spotlight: PCSB, UBS Both Hold Food Drives For HVCS
Friday, June 28th, 2019Special thanks go out to two financial companies with local ties–PCBS Bank and UBS–for both holding food drives this June to benefit our Westchester/Putnam food and toiletry closet. By sheer coincidence, both banks arranged a drop-off of collected goods on Friday, June 28, 2019.
UBS, located in White Plains, has organized an internal food drive for the past four years. Employees collect and contribute donations of non-perishable food, household cleaning products, and toiletries.
PCBS Bank, which is a local institution with several branches throughout the region, held a collection drive during the month of June. We are grateful to have their support for the first time.
All donations will help HVCS’ clients obtain more and better nutritional options, plus personal care items to improve hygiene and encourage a healthy home environment. Clients receive pre-packed bags of food on a monthly basis to supplement other nutritional resources, and staff deliver food bags to clients who cannot make it to our Hawthorne or Mount Vernon offices.