Program Updates
Happy New Year!
The Getting to Zero Santa Clara County team would like to wish you a Happy New Year! We hope that 2024 brings good health, prosperity, and joy to you all. We are so excited to continue serving our community with our programs. This year, let's build on our achievements, learn from each other, and create more lasting change. Here's to 2024 🥂!Â
SHHRP Community Health Outreach Volunteer Training 2023 Recap
The Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Program (SHHRP) hosted their annual Community Health Outreach Volunteer (CHOV) Training in collaboration with harm reduction consultant, Catherine Swanson of Balanced Imperfection. SHHRP and Behavioral Health Department Services staff who completed previous training were offered an opportunity to become apprentices for new volunteers in the 2023 CHOV Series.
The overall goal of CHOV is to help empower fully prepared harm reduction staff and volunteers who understand and can effectively educate people who use drugs (PWUDs) in ways to improve their overall health and well-being and reduce the harms related to their drug use and/or other factors in their lives that have the potential to reduce their health and well-being.
During the entirety of the training, volunteers learned and practiced evidence-based stress reduction skills to enhance their capacity to do the work long-term and provide the best possible services to the HRP participants. In addition, all trainings are designed to address critical issues of cultural competency, vicarious trauma and burn-out prevention and will align with best practices in scientifically valid harm reduction and other interventions, the principles of harm reduction, and National Association of Community Health Workers guidelines and related best practices.
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January Awareness Days
Cervical Health Awareness Month
More than 11,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. The good news: vaccination and regular screening can prevent the disease. During Cervical Health Awareness Month, help us educate people about the steps they can take to protect themselves and their loved ones from cervical cancer.Â
Learn more about cervical cancer with the resource below from the Centers for Disease Control Prevention:
Long-lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the main causes of cervical cancer. Get details about HPV vaccination with the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department Immunization Program linked below:
January 14th is Sexually Transmitted Infection Question (STIQ) Day
Sexually Transmitted Infection Question Day, also known as STIQ Day, is an educational observance aimed at raising awareness about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and encouraging individuals to ask questions, seek information, and engage in safe sexual practices. It provides an opportunity to address concerns and dispel myths surrounding STIs.
Learn more about STIs with programs and resources from the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Program (SHHRP) by clicking the link below:
Recent Publications
US faces 'tragic' rise in syphilis cases with life-saving drug in short supply
Record-high rates of syphilis and an accompanying shortage of the preferred antibiotic to treat the disease will make it one of the most pressing public health concerns in 2024, an association of public health leaders said.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that was once rare, but has made a “tragic” return in an era of reduced funding for public health. The 27-year high in cases has also strained manufacturing of the preferred antibiotic to treat syphilis, a penicillin formulation called Bicillin L-A.
Use of doxycycline to prevent STIs according to provider characteristics
Reports of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis) in the United States are at the highest level in several decades (1). A useful tool for preventing STIs may be prophylactic use of doxycycline taken within 72 hours after a sexual encounter (2–5). However, concerns about development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) (e.g., in Neisseria gonorrhea, which is listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an urgent AMR threat), may affect provider attitudes toward prophylactic use of doxycycline (6).
Our Programs and Services
PrEP/PEP Navigation Services
We offer free and confidential services including:
- PrEP/PEP counseling and navigation servicesÂ
- Support to start PrEPÂ
- Linkage to a primary care provider if neededÂ
- Assistance in accessing programs that help cover the cost of medication partially or in fullÂ
- ReferralsÂ
Submit a referral below to begin the process:
HIV & Aging Program
The Getting to Zero HIV and Aging Program aims to address care gaps for people living with HIV who are over the age of 50 in Santa Clara County by connecting and linking individuals to needed the clinical and non-clinical services.Â
Join our program by filling out the referral form linked below:
Clinical Health Education
Our team provides clinical health education on HIV, STIs, Hepatitis C and Mpox. Clinical health education is available on an individual or group training basis, depending on your preference. We can also provide resource materials for providers and patients upon request. If you are interested in requesting these services, the referral form is linked below:
Scan the QR code below to get connected to our services
Join a Committee and Get Involved!
Governance Team
The Governance Team is the governing body of the Getting to Zero program. It comprises of leaders representing a range of community organizations within the County and is responsible for helping set the strategic direction of the initiative and oversee and track program activities and services.
PrEP/PEP Access Committee
The focus of this committee is on building PrEP provider capacity within the community, including organizing trainings focused on integrating PrEP screening within clinical practice, prescribing PrEP, and implementing effective outreach strategies.
HIV & Aging Program Committee
The HIV and Aging Program aims to assess community needs and collaboratively plan our program. The HIV & Aging program will provide clinical and non-clinical services to anyone who is living or working in Santa Clara County 50 years and older living with HIV.
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If you are interested in joining any of our committees or would like more information about them, please email us at GettingtoZeroSCC@phd.sccgov.org or visit our website: www.gettingtozeroscc.orgÂ
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Collaborate with the Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Program
Attention Community Partners! Interested in collaborating with the Sexual Health & Harm Reduction Program? Complete our Request Form to access the following services:
- Outreach Events / Health Fairs:
- Table/Info Booth for sexual health and harm reduction info.
- Condom Land: Engaging display for free condoms, lube, and safer sex info.
- Mobile STI Testing
- Mobile HIV Testing
- Mpox Vaccination
- Presentations on sexual health and harm reduction
- Narcan Training
- Health Education Materials
- Technical Assistance
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Linkage Program
The SHHRP Hepatitis C Virus Linkage program offers free & confidential services including:
- HCV screening & testing
- HCV disclosure & counselling
- Treatment navigation
- Linkage to a provider, if needed
- Referrals to ancillary services
If you are interested in any of the above services, please fill-out the referral form linked below and send the completed form to HCVlinkage@phd.sccgov.org.
Interested in Joining the Countywide Condom Distribution Program?
This program is administered through the Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Program. To start receiving free condoms and lubricant at your site, please e-mailÂ
HIVPrevention@phd.sccgov.org.
We will send you a form to complete and send to the State Office of AIDS (OA) for approval. Once approved, OA will send you a re-usable electronic order form and you will be able to order directly from the State (free of charge) on a monthly basis.Â
If interested and applicable, please also do the following:Â
1) Add your venue to the condom finder map on http://www.teensource.org/condoms/free by e-mailing STDprograms@essentialaccess.org and with a request to be added.Â
2) If your agency is interested in receiving a condom dispenser for your venue, take a look at http://www.totalaccessgroup.com/, send an email to HIVPrevention@phd.sccgov.org with your preference, and specify where in the venue it will be displayed and accessible to your clients.Â
In alignment with the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, the Office of AIDS’ Condom Distribution Program focuses on the following populations:Â
• People living with HIV/AIDSÂ
• Partners of people living with HIV/AIDSÂ
• Transgender individualsÂ
• Gay men and men who have sex with menÂ
• Injection drug usersÂ
• Sex workersÂ
• Sexual and needle-sharing partners of gay menÂ
• Women at high risk of acquiring HIV via sexual partnersÂ
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Order your FREE STI & HIV Home Test Kits!
Looking to get a free HIV test? đź‘€
We know HIV testing can feel intimidating. That’s why TakeMeHome.org makes free HIV test kits available for delivery. Simply order, swab, and complete the follow up survey. Order your free kit by clicking the link below.
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Resources
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