Services

ABOUT OUR SERVICES

WHCP’s outreach services are designed to effectively reach individuals in the Washington Heights community who are HIV and/or HCV infected or at high risk for HIV and/or HCV. WHCP facilitates access to free HIV and HCV testing and follow-up comprehensive care. WHCP serves individuals in a wide array of situations however our outreach team is specifically adept at reaching homeless individuals and those who have had negative experiences with the social services system in the past. Our experienced and highly skilled outreach team uses culturally competent and linguistically appropriate means of contact and engagement. WHCP staff are able to build trust and create relationships with at-risk individuals- many of whom are not engaged in any type of medical or mental health care. We work with individuals to define their goals and use low-threshold case management activities (including but not limited to supportive counseling, pre-referral support and planning, advocacy, and escorts) to ensure access to services and success in reaching their goals- with an emphasis on wellness and recovery.

VISIT OUR NEW OFFICE AT 76 WADSWORTH AVENUE

After nearly four years of street-based outreach, WHCP has finally moved into a storefront office where we can assist participants in a comprehensive manner. With funding provided by Uptown Health Link (granted by New York State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene through Harlem United), WHCP has rented a 2,000 square foot space which includes a conference room, private intake room and wellness room!

SYRINGE ACCESS AND HARM REDUCTION

Currently WHCP operates as a NYS-licensed Syringe Exchange and Harm Reduction Education Program. Syringe exchange services are available at our 76 Wadsworth Avenue office location as well as street-based near the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal.

Our office-based Syringe Exchange is available Monday- Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday’s from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Our street-based Outreach Staff can be found on Broadway and 178^th (SW corner) during the following hours:

Monday through Friday- 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Monday’s, Tuesday’s, and Thursday’s from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

**If you have difficulty locating an our outreach team please call our Outreach Phone: 917-504-9931, we sometimes walk back and forth between 178th Street and 181st Street (West side of Broadway).

In addition to free, sterile syringes WHCP offers safer sex supplies, safer smoking supplies, and safer shooting supplies such as bottle caps, cotton, bleach, tourniquet’s, alcohol pads, gauze, band-aids, and antibacterial hand gel.

For more information on street-based Syringe Exchange services please call 212-923-7600 or to reach an outreach worker directly call 917-504-9931.

CASE MANAGEMENT

WHCP offers short and long-term case management services that are designed to address the delicate needs of individuals in our community, with a focus on advocacy and self-empowerment. Case Management Services are available at our office location Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you would like to make an appointment with our Case Manager Denise Jones please call 212-923-7600.

PEER DRIVEN SERVICE PROVISION

WHCP believes strongly in the importance of peers as service providers in their own communities. WHCP is part of an innovative pilot program called “Peer Delivered Syringe Exchange” or PDSE. Through utilizing peer networks, Peer Educators are able to reach at-risk injection drug using individuals in need of WHCP services in ways that traditional outreach methods are unable to do. PDSE offers a unique opportunity to reach into the community not only providing syringe exchange services but also connecting an underserved population with the support and referral services WHCP is able to provide.

OVERDOSE PREVENTION

In December 2006 and January 2007, WHCP volunteers conducted a respondent-driven survey of over 70 intravenous drug users in the Washington Heights community. Of those individuals, 47% of respondents reported witnessing another person experience an overdose in the last 12 months and 21% of respondents reported themselves experiencing a non-fatal overdose in the same timeframe.

WHCP is a NYSDOH registered Opioid Prevention Program, we participate in S.K.O.O.P. (Skills and Knowledge on Overdose Prevention Project), an initiative of the Harm Reduction Coalition. WHCP and SKOOP partner to provide bilingual street-based overdose prevention skill-building and naloxone distribution to the friends and family of those who are at risk for overdose. Training is free and participants are provided tools that could be used to save a life while waiting for professional emergency responders.

Please call the WHCP main office for Overdose Prevention Training scheduling information718-285-9721

HIV AND HCV TESTING EVERY WEDNESDAY

Every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. WHCP provides on-site HIV and Hepatitis C testing to those at high-risk for transmission. HIV testing is provided by Alianza Dominicana.

FUTURE SERVICES

WHCP is committed to providing holistic, comprehensive service provision. Our goals for future expansion include mental health services and the advent of a free wound care clinic.