May is Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and honor the diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of these communities.
04.12.17
Well, safe consumption centers didn’t get traction during this legislative session, but the hard work we as an agency did to advocate for them, along with other opioid-related legislation, paid off. The General Assembly overwhelmingly passed the HOPE Act, an omnibus bill bundling various measures to address our state’s opioid use crisis.
By working with coalition members during lobby day and testifying with lawmakers in Annapolis, Health Care for the Homeless community played an important role in helping pass the HOPE Act. Very big thanks to all staff for your awesome advocacy that helped make this bill a success!
With a 216% increase in opioid-related overdose deaths between 2010 and 2015 in Maryland, opioid use was front and center this legislative session. To unpack what this new bill means for our state and our clients, here are a few highlights:
Starting with staff lawmaker visits on the safe consumption bill on Lobby Day, our Health Care for the Homeless advocacy on opioid-related issues this session extended through to the end, with testimony by Chief Health Officer Nilesh Kalyanaraman and Addictions Counselor Terry Clark, and lawmaker and workgroup meetings by Dr. K and Director of Government Relations Eric Colchamiro. Perhaps the most significant Health Care for the Homeless contribution to the HOPE Act: getting chronic pain inserted into the above-noted guidelines for prescribing opioid overdose reversal drugs.
Again, thank you, all. And bravo.
May is Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and honor the diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of these communities.
Gregory Rogers is a Senior Community Health Worker (CHW) with years of experience in addiction counseling. A vital part of a client’s care team, CHWs work with clients to navigate care both in the clinic and out in the community. See how Greg spends his days!
An artist, gamer, and movie lover, Curtis McLaughlin has been part of the Health Care for the Homeless Art Group for more than five years. Get to know Curtis in the lasted edition of "Pass the Mic".
Client storytelling is a staple of the nonprofit business model, ever present in advocacy, clinic tours, fundraising—and news articles like the one you are reading right now.