Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution amends the 2021 Public Health Operating Budget to accept $146,477 from the WI Department of Health Services and creates an LTE project Disease Intervention Specialist position to expand needle exchange services. The term of the grant is January 1 - December 31, 2021 with four, one-year renewal periods. The grant fully funds the position and there is no match requirement.
Title
A Resolution Amending the 2021 Public Health Operating Budget to accept $146,477 from the WI Department of Health Services and creating a project Disease Intervention Specialist position to expand needle exchange services.
Body
WHEREAS, Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC) has been providing Needle Exchange (NEX) program services, and providing harm reduction supplies and treatment referrals since 1996 in Dane County. The program provides syringes supplies necessary to prevent HIV, Hepatitis C, and other bloodborne pathogens among people who inject drugs. The program follows best practice by providing these supplies at no cost to the client and with minimal barriers. The philosophy of PHMDC’s NEX program is to provide stigma and barrier free access to harm reduction supplies; and
WHEREAS, there has been a dramatic increase in demand for services over the past decade, with a 1,200% increase from 2010-2019 for safer injection supplies. In 2019, PHMDC provided over 6,000 exchanges, 211,000 syringes, and 450 Naloxone kits. From January through October 2020, PHMDC has provided over 1,100 Naloxone kits; and
WHEREAS, PHMDC recognizes the importance of primary prevention to prevent communicable disease transmission, as well as tertiary prevention to prevent overdose deaths amongst people who inject drugs and we approach the work through a health and racial equity lens. Data suggests that there is a greater need to outreach to the African American community as the Black-White disparity in opioid overdose deaths in Dane County is more pronounced than th...
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