Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to sign a standard Agreement between the County of Monterey and Access Support for the provision of syringe exchange services, effective upon execution through June 30, 2029 at no cost to the County.
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to sign up to three future amendments that do not significantly change the scope of services.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the County of Monterey Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to sign a standard Agreement between the County of Monterey and Access Support for the provision of syringe exchange services, effective upon execution through June 30, 2029 at no cost to the County.
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to sign up to three future amendments that do not significantly change the scope of services.
SUMMARY DISCUSSION:
The County of Monterey Health Department's Public Health Bureau seeks approval to enter into an Agreement with Access Support Network (ASN) to continue syringe exchange and other harm reduction services in Monterey County under Health and Safety Code section 121349. Reused needles and syringes contribute to the spread of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C in communities where injection drug use is prevalent. ASN has been providing HIV- and HCV-related services in Monterey County since July 1, 2015, funded through private sources, direct California Department of Public Health (CDPH) grants, and CDPH grants administered by the Public Health Bureau. ASN began providing syringe exchange services in Monterey County under the oversight of the Public Health Bureau in January 2017. ASN and the Health Department strive to improve the quality of life and independence of the injection drug use (IDU) community through harm reduction services including syringe exchange. ASN's syringe exchange program has grown ...
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