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Greetings!
Greetings. I am pleased to send CalHEP's April 2012 newsletter. As you know, CalHEP has undergone some transition over the past several months and is now housed at Project Inform. The CalHEP Steering Committee has been hard at work developing our 2012 viral hepatitis policy and educational activities, many of which are discussed in this newsletter. We need your help! In order for CalHEP to be successful in encouraging our elected officials to fight the viral hepatitis epidemic, we need advocates in all regions of the state to make their voices heard. I hope you will consider encouraging organizations and individuals to join CalHEP and become a part of a growing advocacy movement. Anyone can join by emailing me at rclary@projectinform.org.
Finally, I encourage you to check out CalHEP's online referral guide. This guide provides information about viral hepatitis services and is searchable by county. If you have any resources you would like added, please contact me. .
Thanks!
--Ryan
Ryan Clary
Director of Public Policy
Project Inform
273 9th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-558-8669 x224
rclary@projectinform.org
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SB 41 Implementation and Education Project Thanks to a generous grant from the Drug Policy Alliance, CalHEP has embarked on a comprehensive project to ensure that Senate Bill (SB) 41, California's new pharmacy syringe access law, is fully implemented. Led by Glenn Backes, CalHEP's longtime policy consultant, we will educate pharmacists associations and pharmacy chains about the law and encourage them to participate. CalHEP, the Drug Policy Alliance, and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation created a flyer about SB 41 and distributed it to all participants at the recent California Pharmacists Association conference. CalHEP members are encouraged to download this flyer and use it to educate their local pharmacists. CalHEP will also be hosting a conference call in late April for advocates who want to learn more about SB 41 and how they can help make sure that pharmacists are educated and participating. More details will be sent soon. |
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AB 1382 Update
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has been working hard to create guidelines on hepatitis C testing in light of the passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 1382. This bill, which became effective on January 1, 2012, allows trained HIV test counselors, under certain specified conditions, to perform hepatitis C or combination HIV/hepatitis C tests if the tests are classified as waived under the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA). This law will greatly help make hepatitis C testing more widely available.
outlining key provisions in AB 1382. Final guidance to counties and programs will be made available soon. For more information, contact Rachel McLean, California's Adult Viral Hepatitis Prevention Coordinator by phone (510) 620-3403 or email rachel.mclean@cdph.ca.gov .
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Sherri Ziegler Community Service Award Nominations
CallHEP is taking nominations for the 2012 Sherri Ziegler Community Service Award until 5 pm Pacific, Friday, April 13, 2012. Established in 2009 in honor of the late Sherri R. Ziegler, a founding member of the CalHEP Steering Committee, the award reflects the dedication to advocacy, education, and support Sherri exhibited for those with viral hepatitis. More details about the award and the nomination process are available here.
Please take a few minutes to help recognize leaders in our community!
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Take Action!
Sign Team HBV's Petition to President Obama
Team HBV, the student outreach arm of the Asian Liver Center, has launched a Campaign Hep B 2012 project, focused on addressing the viral hepatitis epidemic in this year's elections. They have created an online petition urging President Obama to support funding for viral hepatitis programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and to include hepatitis in the U.S. Global Health Initiative.You can support Team HBV's efforts by signing their petition and urging your friends and colleagues to do the same!
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National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day
May 19, 2012, will be the first National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day. This event is part of the U.S. Health and Human Services' viral hepatitis strategic plan and is another step towards identifying the millions of Americans who have chronic hepatitis B and C but are not aware of their status.
Go here to learn more about the CDC's plans and links to resources. The CDC plans to develop and add educational materials to its website as the day approaches.
If you are planning an event or activity in California on National Hepatitis Testing Day, please send your information to Ryan Clary. We will post this information on CalHEP's website and circulate through the listserv.
In San Francisco, advocates from San Francisco Hep B Free and the San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force are collaborating at the Asian Heritage Street Celebration on May 19. Screening for hepatitis B and C will be available and volunteers will pass out surveys to festival participants to assess their knowledge about viral hepatitis.
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In The News
National Hepatitis C Helpline Launched
The Support Partnership, a collaboration of several hepatitis C education providers, has recently launched a new national helpline called HELP-4-HEP. Staffed by specially trained peer counselors, the helpline offers hepatitis C emotional support, health information, and referrals. The helpline is open from 9 am to 7 pm Eastern Time and can be reached at 877-HELP-4_HEP (877-435-7443).
New SAMHSA Manual
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Thank You!
CalHEP recently received grants from Genentech and the Drug Policy Alliance. We thank them for their generous support!
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CalHEP is an initiative of
Project Inform
279 9th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-558-8669 x224 www.projectinform.org
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