Whittier Street Health Center Launching New Substance Abuse & HIV Prevention Program Whittier Street Health Center will be hosting a press conference on Thursday, September 9th to announce the launch of their new Tri-diagnose program that will be funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). The aim of this program is to service those in Suffolk County that abuse substances and who are at the highest risk of HIV. The rate of individuals that are HIV positive in Suffolk is 938 per every 100,000 which is almost triple the Massachusetts average and this program is meant to address this issue through its four main goals. Program Goals 1. Reduce new HIV infections among the target populations which increasing the number of people who are aware of their HIV status. 2. Identify and effectively intervene with those who are at moderate or high risk for substance abuse and refer them to WSHC's comprehensive risk reduction counseling and treatment 3. Increase patient education, sceening, treatment options, care coordination and risk reduction for substance abuse clients. 4. Increase access to WSHC's substance abuse services including the medication assisted treatment programs for high risk patients. This program is launching to address the urgent need to address the growing issues that Suffolk County is facing in reference to the growth of substance abuse and the spread of HIV. This program will provide assistance, services and referrals to vulnerable members of the community that are suffering the most. FREDERICA M. WILLIAMS BUILDING 1290 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA 02120 Phone: 617-427-1000 Fax: 617-858-2467 www.wshc.org Whittier Street Health Center Launching New Substance Abuse & HIV Prevention Program Whittier Street Health Center will be hosting a press conference on Thursday, September 9th to announce the launch of their new Tri-diagnose program that will be funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). The aim of this program is to service those in Suffolk County that abuse substances and who are at the highest risk of HIV. The rate of individuals that are HIV positive in Suffolk is 938 per every 100,000 which is almost triple the Massachusetts average and this program is meant to address this issue through its four main goals. Program Goals 1. Reduce new HIV infections among the target populations which increasing the number of people who are aware of their HIV status. 2. Identify and effectively intervene with those who are at moderate or high risk for substance abuse and refer them to WSHC's comprehensive risk reduction counseling and treatment 3. Increase patient education, sceening, treatment options, care coordination and risk reduction for substance abuse clients. 4. Increase access to WSHC's substance abuse services including the medication assisted treatment programs for high risk patients. This program is launching to address the urgent need to address the growing issues that Suffolk County is facing in reference to the growth of substance abuse and the spread of HIV. This program will provide assistance, services and referrals to vulnerable members of the community that are suffering the most. FREDERICA M. WILLIAMS BUILDING 1290 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA 02120 Phone: 617-427-1000 Fax: 617-858-2467 www.wshc.org