Updated: July 2, 2024
Initiative
Expanding Harm Reduction Services for Priority Populations Who Use Drugs
RFA Release Date
August 14, 2023
Award Period
7/1/2024 to 6/30/2026
Total Amount for Initiative
$7,500,000 over two years
Total Annual Amount for the Initiative:
$3,750,000
Number of Awards
10 awards for a total of 13 contracts
Link to Press Release
Overview
Death by drug overdose remains a statewide crisis, and more resources are needed to support priority populations that are especially vulnerable to overdose and who have been historically marginalized and stigmatized by systems of care. The goal of this initiative is to expand comprehensive harm reduction services/supplies and culturally competent medical and social services for people who use drugs with a focus on priority populations who experience persistent inequities including but not limited to drug use, overdose, and other negative health outcomes. The priority populations include Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color, Criminal Legal/Justice Involved, Houseless, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex +, Older Adults, and Pregnant/Parenting People.
Each funded agency will:
- increase harm reduction services and supplies through non-stigmatizing care
- advance health equity, and address social determinants of health that contribute to
- perpetuating an individual’s vulnerability to repeated overdose, such as lack of stable housing,
poverty, stigma, and racism - address the intersectionality of drug user health with other specialty care like sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and hepatitis C
- increase engagement of people who use drugs
- evaluate and report on activities, trends, and innovations
Agencies are expected to work collaboratively with the Syringe Exchange Programs, Drug User Health Hub, Opioid Overdose Prevention programs, and other relevant partners in their region to provide meaningful, non-coercive, client-driven services to reduce overdose and other negative outcomes of substance use. Examples of activities may include increased access to low-threshold buprenorphine, providing naloxone and training on its use, distributing fentanyl test strips and other harm reduction supplies, as well as targeted interventions for those who have previously experienced an overdose.
Below is a table of awarded agencies, sorted by NYS Region and Priority Population to be served:
Priority Population | NYS Region | Agency | Award Amount |
Houseless/homeless | Capital District | AIDS Council of Northeastern NY/Alliance for Positive Health | $169,270 |
Pregnant/Parenting | Capital District | AIDS Council of Northeastern NY/Alliance for Positive Health | $300,000 |
Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color | New York City | Justice Innovation, Inc. | $300,000 |
Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color | New York City | National Harm Reduction Coalition (on behalf of Bronx Móvil) | $282,360 |
Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color | New York City | The Bridge, Inc. | $300,000 |
Criminal Legal/Justice Involved | New York City | Housing Works Inc. | $300,000 |
Criminal Legal/Justice Involved | New York City | The Fortune Society, Inc. | $300,000 |
Houseless/homeless | New York City | Justice Innovation, Inc | $300,000 |
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex + | New York City | AIDS Center of Queens County | $300,000 |
Older Adults | New York City | Justice Innovation, Inc. | $300,000 |
Pregnant/Parenting | New York City | Icahn School of Medicine at Mt Sinai | $300,000 |
Houseless/homeless | Western | Cayuga County Community Health Center | $298,370 |
Older Adults | Western | BestSelf Behavioral Health Inc. | $300,000 |