Advocacy Committee
Join community members to support the City Council funded Viral Hepatitis Initiative and to advocate for other local, state, or federal policy and legislative issues.
Goals:
- Educate City Council members on the impact of the Viral Hepatitis Initiative
- Share information with community members, staff from community-based organizations focused on harm reduction, syringe exchange, drug user health, immigrant and foreign-born populations, people with HIV/AIDS, and others at risk of viral hepatitis regarding advocacy and legislative issues
- Provide information to the HepFreeNYC community regarding state and federal legislative issues
Support the committee efforts by sharing our content, and following us on social media!
Related Advocacy Posts
Hep Free NYC Advocacy Committee Meeting Highlights | 7-14-21
Ad Hoc Advocacy Committee Meeting Wednesday, July 14 (3-4 pm) Agenda: Viral Hepatitis Initiative – City Council Funding FY2022 https://council.nyc.gov/budget/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2021/06/Fiscal-2022-Schedule-C-Merge-6.30.21.pdf Overall increase in funding level similar to FY2020 Designations a)Organizations not listed in schedule C: Family Services Network of New York Bed-Stuy Family Health Center BronxCare Health System Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center b)Organization added: Brookdale Hospital Undesignated funds ($260,091) a)Transparency resolution will designate funds b)Proposal – send letter to City Council to: Thank them for ongoing funding Advocate that undesignated funds be allocated to the four organizations not listed others that applied (such as COPE) Request revision to the scope of service language to ensure the initiative is eligible for the NYS Article 6 match (remove “addiction treatment” and “mental health assessment”) Raise issues with unpaid FY21 vouchers (March – June) Request streamlined process to get contracts executed and funds distributed in a timely manner Speakers Initiative funding – are funds still available? NYS Article 6 Match and City Public Health Backfill a)In 2019, NYS cut budget for Article 6 match to NYC (was 36%, now 20%); City Council made up the difference through “Public Health Backfill” (16%) 2. Planning for City Council FY2023 Budget: Request that Check Hep B organizations get funded the same as Check Hep C Baseline funding– need
Hep Free NYC Advocacy Committee Meeting Highlights
Hep Free NYC Advocacy Committee – Quarterly Meeting Highlights Via Zoom webinar – March 10, 2021 (3 – 5 PM)
NoHep Global Contest for Viral Hepatitis Stories
Has viral hepatitis impacted your life or the life of someone you care about? Are you willing to share your story to help spur change? The NoHep team is collecting stories about hepatitis and we need your help!
Advocacy Alert | Submit Comments for CDC on Universal Adult Hep B Vaccination Recommendation
CDC ACIP is undergoing an analysis of evidence and rationale to determine if they should make a recommendation for universal adult hep B vaccination. The decision is important in efforts to increase adult hep B immunization rates. Submit both written and oral public comments for the CDC ACIP meetings on June 23-24 and October 20-21.
