4-27-12 Staten Island Hepatitis B & C Task Force Meeting Highlights

Friday April 27 (9:30 AM – 11:40AM) 25 Victory Blvd, Staten Island – 3^rd floorNext Meeting: Thursday May 31^st (9:30-11:30 AM) 25 Victory Blvd. 3^rd Floor

Special Announcement!

Free Hepatitis B Workshop and Screening on Staten Island. Provided by American Cancer Society. Partners: Gilead, Liu Foundation.
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 (10am – 1pm). Location: New China Buffet, Hylan Plaza; 2626 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY10306. Contact:Jonathan.tsao@cancer.org (718) 886-8890 ext. 10

Meeting Highlights

In Attendance: See Below

See the Online Hepatitis Services Site Locator for most current Staten Island Hepatitis B & C Services – updated after meeting. To be added to the site locator, contact: HepatitisABC@health.nyc.gov

Collaborative Development of Hepatitis C Support Group on Staten Island

• Group discussed working together to establish & maintain one Hepatitis C Monthly Support & Education Group that all organizations would refer to.
  • Tentative Location, Staten Island University Hospital North. Tentative date & time: Thursday at 6 PM. Leader volunteered: Steve Loggins, SIUH MMTP – KimThankful@aol.com
    • Ronni Marks will contact SIUH North Site to identify space
  • In future, 2^nd group may be needed in South Staten Island
  • Outreach plan:
    • email & post group flyer
    • advertise in Staten Island Advance: Health Happenings & Monthly inserts for Russian Community
• Existing Resources to help with Hep B & C Support Groups
  • Hepatitis C Mentor & Support Group Inc. – Ronni Marks, Support Group Leader and Founder – Ronni Marks at 917 612 2731, or 212 953 6818, or HepatitisCMSG@gmail.com
  • Hepatitis C Task Force Website – NYC Support Group Listings

o    Hepatitis C Support Group Manual – HCV Advocate

o    Hepatitis C Support Groups For Drug Users: Facilitators Manual. This guide was developed with the collective input of syringe exchange participants and service providers actively involved in hepatitis C (HCV) support groups throughout New York City. Harm Reduction Coalition

Presentation of Tools to Help with Hepatitis Services on Staten Island

• NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene Website. Google Search: NYC Hepatitis ABC DOHMH
  • NYC Hepatitis Services Online Site Locator – To include you site, email: HepatitisABC@health.nyc.gov
• NYC Community Hepatitis B & C Community Coalitions Webpage & Social Networking Resources: www.HepFree.nyc

Discussion of Hepatitis B & C related Needs on Staten Island

• Funding to support staff time for Hep B & C Testing, Patient Navigation & Care. See:
  • United Way Community Grants
  • BARKER WELFARE FOUNDATION
  • BMS Community Grants.
  • Genentech Community Grants & Scholarships.
  • Gilead Grants
  • PAUL RAPOPORT FOUNDATION
  • ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION
  • Vertex Grants

• Grant Writing Support for CBOs. See: www.CatchaFire.org & https://candid.org/?fcref=lr
• Phlebotomy Training support needed
• Hepatitis Training for both clinical & non-clinical staff.
  • For Existing Resources, see https://hepfree.nyc/new-york-city-hepatitis-c-task-force/education-and-training/online-training/
  • VOCAL-NY Provides Hepatitis & Hepatitis Advocacy Training Free of Charge at your program site. To learn more, contact: Fred Wright, Organizer – V.O.C.A.L. NY-Users Union – fred@vocal-ny.org 646-321-5282

Policy & Advocacy

• There is New Funding to Support Hepatitis C ‘wrap around services’ in Medicaid – Advocacy Success!  See article: Legislative Gazette
• Policy & Advocacy Alerts are regularly posted: https://hepfree.nyc/policy-and-advocacy/

• Demand a Plan to End Hepatitis C in New York. VOCAL New York, along with other allies in fight to address hepatitis C in New York State, are planning another advocacy day in the Albany to demand a statewide plan to diagnose and link to care everyone living with hepatitis C. Advancements in testing and treatment options provide New York the opportunity to tackle the hepatitis C epidemic if state government comes together to form a plan now. When: TBD (before the end of the legislative session) Where: New York State capitol in Albany. For More Info Contact Fred Wright: fred@vocal-ny.org / 646-321-5282

Upcoming Awareness Day Planning:

• May 15^th 1^st National Hispanic Hepatitis Awareness Day
• May 19^th 1^st National Hepatitis Testing Day
• Potential to participate in African Refuge Annual Health Fair on Staten Island (June?). Contact: Judy Brown, ED, Rev (JLBrown@AfricanRefuge.org)
• July 28^th World Hepatitis Day

Upcoming Events

• Harm Reduction Coalition Training Calendar Spring 2012
• Peer Delivered Syringe Exchange Conference. May 4^th 2012. Focus is on career development for Peers. For more info, contact: Hiawatha Collins, PDSE Network Leader – hcollins@health.nyc.gov

• TD Five Boro Bike Tour. American Liver Foundation.  May 6th. Join the Liver Life Challenge Team in America’s largest cycling event, a 40-mile, traffic-free ride for some 30,000 cyclists.
• Hepatitis Management: State of the Art (CME). May 11-12.  Einstein Hospital, NY.
• Liver Life Walk. American Liver Foundation. June 3rd, Battery Park.
• Management of Hepatitis C Virus in the New Era: Small Molecules Bring Big Changes. June 7th. New York

Future Direction & Local Leadership of the Staten Island Hepatitis Task Force

• Next Meeting: Thursday May 31^st (9:30-11:30 AM) 25 Victory Blvd. 3^rd Floor
• Local Leadership will be further discussed

• Barbara Sullivan, Coord, Community Health Action of Staten Island (Barbara.Sullivan@sihealthaction.org)
• David Fiumaro, Area Immunization Manager – GlaxoSmithKline – (david.x.fiumaro@gsk.com)
• Elizabeth Terranova, MPH Candidate – PCSI  Assistant – (info@hepfree.nyc)
• Fred Wright, Organizer – V.O.C.A.L. NY-Users Union – fred@vocal-ny.org 646-321-5282
• Jimmy Rivera – Project Hospitality
• Joshua Sippen, Supervisor Community Health Action of Staten Island (joshua.sippen@chasiny.org)
• Mary O’Connor –  Staten Island University Hospital: HIV/HCV Treatment Clinic (Mary_O’Connor@siuh.edu)
• Nirah Johnson, Community Projects Specialist –  Office of Viral Hepatitis Coordination – info@hepfree.nyc
• Rebecca Ortiz Community Health Action of Staten Island  (rebecca.Ortiz@chasiny.org)
• Ronni Marks, Support Group Leader  The Hepatitis C Mentor & Support Group, Inc. HepatitisCMSG@gmail.com
• Sarup Nariani, MD – South Beach Addiction Treatment Center – (SarupNariani@oasas.state.ny.us)
• Sharon Jensen, BSW, Associate Director, Prison Programs and HIV/HCV Counseling & Testing Services – Community Health Action of Staten Island – Sharon.Jensen@chasiny.org
• Steve Loggins – Staten Island University Hospital MMTP – Kimthankful@aol.com
• Tess Ceron, Patient Advocacy Liaison, Medical Affairs, Kadmon Pharmaceuticals LLC –  Tess.Ceron@Kadmon.com
• Yuni Cha-Cardinale, Pharm.D., Medical Science Liaison, Virology – Vertex –  yuni_cardinale@vrtx.com