Posts Tagged ‘Westchester’

Westchester Street Outreach Team Has A New Van

Friday, February 4th, 2022
Street outreach team in Westchester gets a new van.

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.

Syringe Exchange Expands Into Westchester

Monday, January 11th, 2021

Project Reach Out vanSince 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.

Coronavirus Case in New Rochelle + Comparison to Flu Epidemic

Thursday, March 5th, 2020

We 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

Stock photo by Pexels.comDora*, 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, 2019

Special 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 logoUBS, 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.

PCSB BankPCBS 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.

Narcan Training For Pleasantville Strong

Friday, May 10th, 2019

On Thursday, May 9, 2019, Hudson Valley Community Services joined forces with Pleasantville Strong and several community leaders to offer a free training and certification on how to use Narcan, the opioid overdose reversal drug. Pleasantville Strong organized the event at the Mt. Pleasant Community Center in Valhalla, and forty concerned citizens attended. Melissa Shippy, a Senior Program Supervisor here at HVCS, provided the training, and Andrea Parada, Foundation Grants & Fundraising Manager, represented the agency. Speakers included Mt. Pleasant Judge Robert Ponzini, Councilwoman Laura Rogersmalley and Town Police Chief Paul Oliva.

HVCS Receives $22,000 From The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, In Partnership With Macy’s

Monday, March 25th, 2019

The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS FoundationHudson Valley Community Services has been awarded a grant for $22,000 from The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) in partnership with Macy’s. The grant will be used for HVCS’ Psychosocial Support Services (PSS) program, which is a unique vehicle to provide HIV-positive residents of Westchester, Putnam and Rockland with emotional and psychological support, support groups, and ensure they remain connected to care and community. Specifically, ETAF’s grant will fund art therapy and interactive journaling for the women’s support group. PSS began on March 1, 2019.

HVCS is honored to be recognized for our innovative approach in support of people affected by HIV and AIDS. “Hudson Valley Community Services is a powerful part of a collective effort to achieve an AIDS-free world, a world Elizabeth Taylor is still helping to realize through ETAF” said Catherine Brown, Executive Director of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. “ETAF and Macy’s are honored to support HVCS with these funds to continue our aligned goals of health equity and zero discrimination for all people living with or at risk for HIV and AIDS.”

Through their Cause Marketing Program, Thanks For Sharing, Macy’s recognizes their responsibility to support disadvantaged communities and the needs of their neighbors. They are proud to partner with ETAF and have contributed to this grant.

The Psychosocial Support Services program’s main funder is the Ryan White CARE Act, Part A, administered by Public Health Solutions.

About The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF)
Founded in 1991, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) joins Elizabeth’s voice in the fight for social justice and human rights for people living with HIV and AIDS to achieve an AIDS-free world. Inspired by Elizabeth’s personal passion for the cause, in 2019 ETAF is focused on youth, women, children and families, ensuring they receive the direct care and support they need both domestically and in Malawi, the hotspot of the global epidemic. ETAF’s advocacy and awareness initiatives concentrate on elevating Elizabeth’s voice to secure care for the marginalized and social equity for all. To learn more or to make a donation please visit www.etaf.org.

Audi Hawthorne Is Collecting Donations For HVCS

Monday, November 5th, 2018

Audi Hawthorne donation drop zone

Audi Hawthorne, which opened its doors just over a year ago, has become a donation drop zone to support HVCS! General Manager Nick Belli and his staff are collecting donated goods for the months of November and December, including non-perishable foods and warm winter gear. Everyone from the community is invited to stop by the service department to drop off items for our food closets. Audi Hawthorne is also taking in donated hats, gloves, scarves and socks, which will be distributed to clients of the Project Reach Out program who are unstably housed or homeless.

Most-requested items from our food closet clients include:

  • soups
  • pasta and other packaged grains
  • canned fruits and vegetables
  • tuna
  • peanut butter
  • cereals and oatmeal
  • instant mashed potatoes
  • holiday meal ingredients such as stuffing and cranberry sauce
  • fruit juices (boxed or canned)
  • boxed milk (Parmalait)

Visit our Food Closet page to learn more.

Audi Hawthorne is located at 151 Saw Mill River Road (Route 9A) in Hawthorne, within a mile of HVCS’ headquarters. Special thanks to our neighbors at Audi for stepping up to support our programs!

Thank You Pleasantville Moms!

Friday, November 2nd, 2018

Members of HVCS' staff with the donationAs cold weather threatens, the job for HVCS’ Project Reach Out team gets tougher. Life is also tougher for PRO’s clients, who are mostly unstably housed or homeless. It takes more work to find them, and it’s harder to engage them in the HIV prevention and addiction services that PRO offers. That’s where a warm cup of cocoa and a snack can make a huge difference!

Members of a “Pleasantville Moms” Facebook group recently banded together to donate several boxes of ready-mix hot cocoa, along with cookies and chips. The PRO team will be able to build trust and more easily engage their clients by offering them a hot drink on a cold day. And the donations keep coming! Thank you to the women who donated these products. A cup of cocoa is a small gesture but makes a big impact on those who may not have a warm place to live. By staying in touch with the PRO team, we improve their connection to healthcare and support services and can work together towards a brighter future.

Pictured: HVCS’ J. Dewey, Director of Public Relations & Resource Enhancement; Edgar Peralta, Project Reach Out Lower Hudson Senior Prevention Specialist; Anzie Roberts, Project Reach Out Lower Hudson Prevention Specialist.

HVCS Takes On New Housing Program in Lower Hudson

Thursday, July 5th, 2018

Recently, the New York City Department Of Health  approached HVCS with a request to take over the Tri-County Ryan White Part A Housing Program (in Putnam, Rockland and Westchester Counties) based upon our outstanding history of serving HIV-positive homeless and unstably housed individuals. We agreed and are happy to announce the program is officially up and running under the watchful eye of Program Supervisor, Veronica Ingram-Henry, and Housing Specialist, Jessica Noble. The program can assist eligible HIV-positive clients with short-term rental assistance, utilities and telephone service, and moving expenses to secure or maintain stable housing. Eligibility is based upon HIV status, residency, and income. For more information, please contact Program Supervisor, Veronica Ingram-Henry at (845) 247-5735 or vhenry@hudsonvalleycs.org.

The HomeStarter program is also available for Rockland County residents.