March Birthdays Kasha Lebron.............................. 3/5 Jacquelyn Dixon......................... 3/6 Jeffrey Santiago......................... 3/6 Kevin Kaiser................................. 3/7 Harold Colburn............................ 3/10 Gabrielle Mahapatra.................. 3/10 Veronica Velazquez.................... 3/11 Siobhan Fitzgerald-Matson...... 3/11 Theresa Shankland.................... 3/12 Rashida Williams........................ 3/13 Erin Pepicello............................... 3/13 Rachel Voelkle-Kuhlmann........ 3/14 Nichole Frank.............................. 3/15 Cristina Salcedo.......................... 3/16 Elizabeth Pijanowski.................. 3/17 Trish Hopkins.............................. 3/17 Joseph Ryan................................ 3/17 Susan Vanderwerf...................... 3/17 Mindi Mietlicki............................. 3/18 Theresa Woehrel......................... 3/20 Kaitlyn Gately.............................. 3/20 Kate Gallivan................................ 2/22 Brittany Price............................... 3/26 Byron McKinney.......................... 3/26 Johanna Aponte......................... 3/26 Joshua McClain.......................... 3/27 Cord Stone................................... 3/28 Kimberly Brown........................... 3/31
March Anniversaries Angela Palmer......................16 years Kelly Craig..............................7 years Tayrin Tapia...........................6 years Justin Azzarella....................5 years James DeGarmo..................4 years James Weaver......................3 years Matthew Sydor.....................3 years Lydia Kendrick......................2 years Kathryn Kraft.........................2 years Kasha Lebron........................2 years Dana McHale........................1 year Indoallana Quinones...........1 year Renee VanAernam...............1 year Andrew Youngman..............1 year Abby Depczynski.................1 year Steven Jagord......................1 year
M
any agency employees were part of the Evergreen family long before their first day of work. Some were volunteers at our special events, or interns working with and learning from staff. Others, like Kevin Kaiser, came to Evergreen as clients. Kevin is a new SUI (Substance Use Initiative) Peer Worker, providing outreach targeted towards folks in active use. He builds rapport and connects them with an SUI harm reduction counselor, who then links them to treatment and/or medical services when they’re ready. Kevin does this with knowledge, understanding, and compassion, because he has walked in their shoes. Kevin had heard about the Exchange from friends, but it took a while for him to feel comfortable coming in the door. “I was too nervous to come in,” he says. “The way it was described to me, it was too good to be true. I used to pull up, and send one of my friends inside. It’s kind of funny. Now my job is to help others who might be uncomfortable like I was to come in here. Hopefully I can bridge the gap.” Addiction had taken a huge toll on Kevin’s life. “I came from a rough place before this,” he says. “I’ve done jail, I’ve done rehab, I’ve been homeless, I’ve been at the City Mission, I’ve done it all.” At one point Kevin was living outside, waking up in the woods, and
coming into the city to do heroin all day. “There was a night where everything fell apart,” he recalls. “I was wrapped up in a tarp, and it was pouring rain, and I was sick. I said ‘I cannot do this anymore.’” The Exchange was there for Kevin. “I was talking to Shannon one night, when the Exchange was open late,” he recalls. “We talked for, like, two hours straight. Shannon has a lot of empathy for people. She helped me get on the right path, and see what I wanted. After that conversation, I started wanting to do the right thing.” This was a big decision, but not the end of Kevin’s struggle. “Choosing to get clean is easy,” he says. “But actually getting clean is rough.” Kevin entered a rehab program at Conifer Park in Albany. “I enjoyed it,” he says. “My attitude going in was positive. I wanted to be there. And now, it’s nice that when people have questions about rehab, I’m able to talk about my experience there.” After leaving rehab, Kevin continued coming to the Exchange, out of routine, for social support, and for a cup of coffee. “My habit for the day would be wake up, go to the (methadone) clinic, and come here to get some coffee and talk to people. I learned that isolating yourself is one of the most negative things. When you get in your own head you can really talk
yourself into some stuff.” Kevin became a daily fixture at the Exchange. He struck up conversations with staff and clients on any and every topic. “I think, I mean, Liz’s office is right there, and I think she picked up on the fact that I might have a lot to offer,” Kevin says. “I was focused on my recovery. I wasn’t in the job market per se, but a boss like Liz and a company like Evergreen, they understand what recovery is.” Kevin says his position has the flexibility to allow him to put his recovery first, something that many other jobs, even part time jobs, do not offer. “I feel like it’s a good fit,” he says. During his work day, Kevin is an ambassador for all things Evergreen, especially the Exchange and other Harm Reduction programs. He is on the front line, sharing information and making personal connections with people who might otherwise not feel comfortable coming through our doors. “Sometimes that means physically coming with them,” he says. “Sometimes it’s just nice to have someone walk you in and show you around.” Kevin says that now that he’s a Peer Worker, those casual conversations have become more important. “I don’t try to force anything,” he says. “I like it to be organic. But now I definitely go out of my way to be ‘hey, I work for Evergreen and here is
what we offer...”. Kevin says that with few exceptions, people are receptive to his message, especially active users, even if they’re not quite ready to make changes. “It just depends on where they are in their life. That’s ok. I focus on getting them to the Exchange for now.” Kevin says he’s excited to be joining Evergreen at a time when the agency, and the Harm Reduction program in particular, are growing. “Our move to the third floor is really exciting,” he says. “I think we’re really taking it to the next level.” These aren’t empty words for Kevin. “Evergreen saved my life,” he says. “So many of the staff have gone above and beyond for me. Shannon, Cecil, Trish, Liz, and Emma. I know they were rooting for me. Shannon helped me set goals, and I think I’ve hit every one of them. Now everything is where I wanted it to be. And I still come in for the coffee every day!” What does the future hold for Kevin? “I was given a second chance,” he says. “Unfortunately, not everyone gets that second chance. I’ve recently had four or five people I know overdose, people in their 20s with their whole lives ahead of them. We can’t help everyone, and not everyone wants help, but I want to help as many people as I can. Maybe they can learn from me, and not make the mistakes I made.” Connections
Big Garbage Day. — Jimi Konidis z Some decent weather again. — Cecil Sutton z My favorite thing about spring is that we’re one season away from summer! — Keisha Leavy z The sound of birds and insects in the air again. — Sal Sciandra z I love the first warm day of spring when you can finally walk around without a jacket and restaurants open up their patio seating. I feel like Buffalo comes alive again! — Rachel Voelkle-Kuhlmann z When the flowers start blooming out. — Magali Maldonado z My favorite part of spring is the array of colors from flowers blooming and the sound of birds chirping again. — Melissa Murray z My favorite part of spring is when the spring flowers start poking through the ground, and actually start blooming. Love those Daffodils!! Their bright yellow color brings a smile to my face. — Trish Hopkins
Growing out of a small-town school event in California, Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society. The United States has observed it annually throughout the month of March since 1987. The 2017 theme, “Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business,” honors women who have successfully challenged the role of women in both business and the paid labor force. Honorees include Rebecca Anderson (Community and Economic Development Organizer), Barbara Hackman Franklin (Former Secretary of Commerce), Alexis Herman (Former Secretary of Labor), Lilly Ledbetter (Equal Pay Activist), Kate Mullany (All-Female Labor Union Organizer), Lucy Gonzalez Parsons (Labor Organizer), Barbara Rhodes (Union Leader), Andra Rush (CEO), Nina Vaca (CEO), Maggie Lena Walker (Banker), Yvonne Walker (Union Leader), Addie Wyatt (Civil Rights Activist), and Norma Yeager (Stockbroker). - Christine Marrano
HEALTHe LINK by Christina Mihalitsas
HEALTHeLINK, the Western New York Clinical Information Exchange, is a nonprofit organization which has developed a system for health care providers and consumers to electronically share important medical and clinical information privately, securely, and efficiently. The system uses encryption, password protection, the ability to track every viewer, and other safeguards to protect the exchange of consumer health care information. For your security, and the security of our patients and clients, HEALTHeLINK and Evergreen staff complete audits of system use. Some of these audits include: • • • •
• • • • • •
Same Name Access Audit: tracks instances of users accessing records of a person with the same last name. Patient Data Access: a report listing all users who have accessed a specific patient during a given time frame. Access by a Specific User: a report of all accesses made by a specific user during a given time frame. Users: reports can be run for a variety of parameters, including by role or by user in a specific specific practice. Please Remember Only access information necessary for you to perform your job duties. Do not access your own records or those of anyone else (relatives, coworkers, celebrities, etc.) unless it’s directly related to provision of care. The consent status in HEALTHeLINK must only be changed with a valid, signed consent form from the patient. Don’t share your username, password, or authentication information. Remember to log out of HEALTHeCOMMUNITY after each use so that others cannot access information through your account. HEALTHeLINK should not be used as a pre-screening tool to determine if you will accept a patient into your practice. This does not satisfy the definition of treatment (see below).
Treatment means the provision, coordination, or management of healthcare and related services among health care providers or by a single healthcare provider, and may include providers sharing information with a third party. Consultation between providers regarding a patient, and the referral of a patient from one provider to another, is also included with the definition of “treatment”.
Hello, friends! On Wednesday, March 8th I’ll be facilitating a Safer Injection and Wound Care workshop in the Sanctuary at Evergreen Commons. As you can guess, I’m more than a little excited about this! A couple of years ago, the Harm Reduction Coalition was tasked by the New York State Department of Health with developing workshops aimed at streamlining education around various topics in the Harm Reduction field. There has been no real formal training for safer injection practices – until now! This workshop is an intensive crash course on all things related to injection drug use. I’ve been at Evergreen for a few years now, and I know many of you come into contact with people who inject substances. Even a fleeting encounter can be an opportunity to provide some solid information, and maybe even dispel a myth or two. Another benefit is that this course will offer you something regardless of your expertise. Maybe you have no idea how drugs are prepared – we’ve got you! Maybe you’re great on the counseling aspect, but unclear on the mechanics – we cover that! Or maybe you’re on point with all things vein related, but aren’t sure how to take it to that next level – it’s on the agenda! The workshop will be an incredible combination of street knowledge with a medical twist, finessed by basic psychology. Bonus: it counts for 6.5 hours toward peer credentialing. Now, a few disclaimers: Because of the nature of this presentation, the content might be difficult for some folks. Please don’t let that deter you. I honor wherever you’re at as far as your recovery, grief, etc. I don’t take anything personally – if you’re struggling, please practice self-care. Leave if you need to, come back if you want. Also, I want to be up front that this workshop does not focus on recovery. We touch on it as part of the process, but this geared toward working with folks in the precontemplative/contemplative stages of use. Letting people in extended networks about this training is much appreciated, but I would make sure they understand that little bit. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions. If you’re interested in this training you can register at hivtrainingny.org. - Shannon Curry-Izzo Workshop Summary | This one-day training will build participant knowledge and skills to work with clients around safer injection practices and complications associated with injecting. This course will provide an overview of the basic anatomy of veins and arteries; the supplies and equipment used to inject drugs; common injections practices; basic care for injection-related infections and wounds, and harm reduction strategies for working with substance users and people who inject drugs. As a result of this training, participants will be able to: • Describe wounds and infections commonly associated with injection drug use; • List the risk considerations for different injection sites (arms, hands, neck or groin) and methods; • Identify strategies to prevent injection related infections and injuries; • Describe basic wound care, and red flags requiring medical attention; • Recognize strengths of substance users that can be used to promote evidence-based practices and reduce infection and fatal incidence; and • Provide harm reduction counseling messages tailored to clients’ unique circumstances to more effectively engage PWIDs.
Don’t forget, future alerts for Connections, including submission deadlines, will be on the Intranet, not via email as in the past. Be sure to check the Intranet regularly so you don’t miss any Connections deadlines! Questions? Comments? Story ideas? Send them to “Connections” via Outlook.
NNHAD, March 20, is an opportunity for Native people to learn about HIV, encourage HIV counseling and testing in Native communities, and help decrease the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. It is also a time to recognize the impact of HIV and AIDS on American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians (collectively referred to as Native people). This national event, now in its 10th year, is observed on the spring equinox each year. This year’s theme is Hear Indigenous Voices. Of the estimated 44,073 new HIV diagnoses in the United States in 2014, one percent (222) were among Native people. Of those, 77% were men, and 22% were women. Of the HIV diagnoses among Native men in 2014, 84% were among gay and bisexual men. From 2005 to 2014, the number of new HIV diagnoses increased 19% among Native people overall and 63% among Native gay and bisexual men. Poverty and high STD transmission rates are particular factors, along with the stigma associated with gay relationships and HIV, barriers to mental health care, and high rates of alcohol and drug abuse. Native communities are working to overcome these barriers by increasing HIV and AIDS awareness, encouraging HIV testing, and promoting entry into medical care. CDC is working with communities to share stories, build awareness, and reduce the toll HIV takes on Native communities. What can you do? Encourage those in the Native community to get tested. Talk about HIV prevention with family, friends, and colleagues and on social media. When posting on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media, please use hashtag #NNHAAD. Connections
I sometimes have social anxiety. — Jimi Konidis z People might be surprised to learn that I’m an atheist. — Sal Sciandra z When I was in school, not only was I on the public speaking team, I was really good at it. — John Carocci z I love to plan getaway trips in the summer. — Magali Maldonado z I met my sister for the first time a year and a half ago. — Liz Miller
March 10th is National HIV and AIDS Awareness Day for Women and Girls. Since the start of the epidemic, in many regions, women have remained at a much higher risk of infection than men. Young women, and adolescent girls in particular, account for a disproportionate number of new HIV infections. In the United States, women accounted for roughly one in five new HIV diagnoses in 2014. Of these, 87% were attributed to heterosexual sex and 13% to injection drug use. The proportion of AIDS diagnoses reported among women has more than tripled since the early days of the epidemic, from 7% in 1985 to 25% in 2014. Approximately one in four people living with HIV are women. 61% of the total estimated number of women in the U.S. living with diagnosed HIV in 2015 were African American. African Americans and Hispanics represent 30% of all women in the U.S. but they account for approximately 80% of HIV cases among women. In 2014, three and a half times as many black women were diagnosed with HIV as white women. Globally, in 2015 there were an estimated 17.8 million women aged 15 and older living with HIV, constituting 51% of all adults living with HIV. HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. In 2015, black women were approximately 16 times more likely to receive a diagnosis of HIV infection than were white women. Why are women particularly at risk of HIV? Factors include gender inequality, intimate partner violence, lack of access to healthcare services, lack of access to education, lack of recognition under the law and legal restrictions, lack of HIV prevention programs for women, lack of school based interventions, and more.
by Ja k o b W illoughby
There are likely only a handful of you that haven’t moved at least once over the past few months. Now, with (mostly) everyone settled into their permanent home, some challenges remain for the Facilities team in answering your ticket requests. There have been hiccups in the system where folks are tagged in previous locations, or where outside movers have moved staff and we can’t keep track of where you are now! When submitting a ticket request, it’s helpful to provide as much detail as possible. If you’re in the Annex, including your office/cube number in the ticket will help us get to you that much quicker. For those of you in the Roanoke, it has been a challenge adjusting to new floor numbers. A quick double check that you have the correct floor will be a great help. In the location description, specify if the issue is in the Annex or the Roanoke. This will be a timesaver, which is especially important for urgent safety issues. Recently, a ticket for a loose needle listed the
location as the “4th floor bathroom”. After checking restrooms on both sides of the 4th floor and finding nothing, we had to inspect all of the public restrooms in the entire building before the needle was found. Be as specific as possible, and if the problem isn’t in your normal working area, provide those details as well. It’s exciting to see programs expanding, and staff being able to spread out. With anything new, there are bound to be bugs in the system to be worked out. For those in the Annex, there may be issues that will need to be addressed by the construction team. We’re doing our best to coordinate efforts between our two teams to handle these situations as they arise. This does, however, make addressing your needs in a timely fashion a bit more of a challenge. The more information we have in those requests, the easier we can tackle these issues with alacrity. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please let us know. Connections