Harm Reduction Services Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DRUG USE IN SACRAMENTO AND SURROUNDING AREAS, TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, EMPOWER PEOPLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, AND EDUCATE EACH OTHER TO REDUCE HARM IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

HRS CURRENTLY PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY:COLLABORATION & FUNDING - HRS SERVES ON SEVERAL BOARDS AND COLLABORATIONS INCLUDING HIV PLANNING COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD, SACRAMENTO WORKGROUP TO IMPROVE SEX HEALTH, AND STOCKTON BLVD. PARTNERSHIP. HRS SERVES AS A TRAINING ENTITY FOR PRE AND POST GRADUATE STUDENTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE MEDICAL FIELD ON HARD-TO-REACH POPULATIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SACRAMENTO STATE UNIVERSITY, UC DAVIS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, AND SEVERAL OTHER COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS. HRS WORKS IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ON BOTH THEIR DISEASE TESTING PROGRAMS AND RYAN WHITE MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENT. HRS HAS ALSO BEEN A PARTNER WITH UCSF AND UCD IN SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS AND RESEARCH ABOUT THE POPULATIONS SERVED.PROGRAMS - HRS HAS SEVERAL PROGRAMS WHICH SERVE HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS ACROSS SACRAMENTO COUNTY AND SOME OUTLYING AREAS OF PLACER, YOLO, AND EL DORADO COUNTIES. HRS SERVES HOMELESS, SUBSTANCE USING, MENTALLY ILL, LGBTQ, SEX WORKERS, AND HIGH RISK YOUTH. HRS PROGRAMS ARE: RYAN WHITE MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENT ASSISTING HIV+ INDIVIDUALS IN ACCESSING MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES. SERVES OVER 75 PEOPLE PER YEAR.HIV AND HEPATITIS C TESTING - MOBILE TESTING SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGHOUT SACRAMENTO COUNTY USING OUR MOBILE TESTING UNIT. ALL STAFF ARE STATE CERTIFIED DISEASE TEST COUNSELORS THROUGH THE STATE OFFICE OF AIDS. TESTING IS PROVIDED IN SETTINGS WHERE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY AT, MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THEM. ALL PEOPLE WHO TEST POSITIVE ARE REFERRED TO OUR CASE MANAGERS WHO ASSIST THEM IN ACCESSING SERVICES. HRS TESTS THE HIGHEST RISK POPULATIONS OF INJECTION DRUG USERS, SEX WORKERS, AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED. SERVES OVER 1,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR.STD TESTING - HRS PROVIDES MOBILE CHLAMYDIA AND GONORRHEA TESTING FOR PEOPLE THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH SACRAMENTO COUNTY PRIMARY CARE LAB. ALL TESTS ARE PROCESSED THROUGH THE COUNTY LAB AND HRS ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS IN GETTING CONNECTED TO TREATMENT AND PRIMARY CARE. SERVES OVER 300 PEOPLE PER YEAR.SAFE POINTS SYRINGE EXCHANGE - HRS OFFERS SYRINGE EXCHANGE SERVICES IN THE OFFICE AS WELL AS THROUGH STREET OUTREACH. WE COLLECT USED SYRINGES AND DISPOSE OF THEM THROUGH PROPER DISPOSAL COMPANY. WE ISSUE STERILE SYRINGES AND OTHER SAFER INJECTION SUPPLIES TO DECREASE PEOPLE'S CHANCES OF CONTRACTING INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND OTHER COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS ABSCESSES. PEOPLE ARE OFFERED SEVERAL OPTIONS OF BASIC FIRST AID SUPPLIES, HYGIENE ITEMS, AND INJECTION SUPPLIES. HRS WORKS MOSTLY OFF DONATIONS FOR THIS PROGRAM BUT DOES ALSO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF SOME LOCAL FOUNDATIONS INCLUDING CARES FOUNDATION. SERVES OVER 5,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR.EDUCATION RESPONSE AND ACCESS - HIGH RISK SUBSTANCE USERS ARE THE FOCUS WITH THIS PROGRAM. THERE IS A CONSTANT INCREASE IN PEOPLE ACCESSING SYRINGE EXCHANGE AS THE OPIATE ADDICTION POPULATION GROWS. WE HAVE TARGETED OUTREACH FOR THIS POPULATION SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING ON SAFER PRACTICES, ABSCESS AVOIDANCE, VEIN CARE, AND CONNECTION TO SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES. SERVES OVER 200 PEOPLE PER YEAR.OPIATE OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE TRAINING PROGRAM - IN RESPONSE TO OVERDOSE BECOMING THE LEADING CAUSE OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH IN THE U.S., HRS NOW HAS A PROGRAM THAT TRAINS OPIATE USERS AND THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ON HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO AN OVERDOSE USING 911, RESCUE BREATHING, NALOXONE ADMINISTRATION, AND RECOVERY POSITION. RECENT LAW CHANGES HAVE ALLOWED HRS TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. SERVES 500 PEOPLE PER YEAR.JOAN VITERI MEMORIAL CLINIC - HRS PARTNERS WITH THE UC DAVIS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE TO PROVIDE FREE BASIC MEDICAL CARE ON SATURDAYS AT OUR SATELLITE CLINIC LOCATION. THE CLINIC SPECIALIZES IN SERVING OUR POPULATIONS OF SUBSTANCE USERS, SEX WORKERS, AND OTHER HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS. SERVES OVER 1,200 PEOPLE PER YEAR.