CORRESPONDENCE - NON AGENDIZED - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

4. CONTINUE to provide verbal and visual (e.g. large banner during operating hours) reminders to all OCNEP clients to properly dispose of all sharps at OCNEP or in one of the permanent disposal kiosks present in the Civic Center. 5. CONTINUE to offer information sessions and sharps safety education to SAPD patrolmen and women at shift change roll call and/or when requested. 6. In consultation with interested stakeholders including but not limited to the Council, SAPD, OCHCA, and community members (e.g. library staff, City custodial workers), INSTITUTE three additional needle sweeps on weekdays. Sites for these new needle sweeps would be decided upon by the aforementioned parties, targeted to areas with concentrated needle litter, and undertaken by OCNEP volunteers in such a manner that protects volunteer safety and remains cognizant of staffing and resource limitations. 7. INSTITUTE a new sharps distribution policy that dictates that clients will be ineligible to receive sharps unless they accept a puncture -proof medical waste container from volunteers and/or present a previously received container. California H&S 11364(b) allows used syringe possession if they are in sharps containers. B. INSTITUTE the mandatory distribution of sharps disposal pamphlets to each client outlining the necessity of proper disposal, list of City and County disposal sites, and relevant laws regarding the sharps possession/proper containerization. 9. EXPLORE the introduction of a phone hotline for Santa Ana community members to call and report incidents of improperly disposed sharps. Bearing in mind staffing and resource constraints, OCNEP would dispatch trained volunteers to retrieve and dispose of these sharps as quickly as possible from sites within City limits. 10. EXPLORE the possibility of developing a community network of disposal sites that could be utilized by IDUs outside of regular OCNEP hours. Sites that might be considered include the LGBT Center of Orange County, other HIV -testing sites throughout the City and County, and OCHCA-administered public health clinics. Where not currently in place, OCNEP would initiate conversations with biomedical waste disposal companies to provide for the timely pickup and destruction of discarded sharps. 11. In consultation with the Council, SAPD, and OCHCA, and with input from IDU, EXPLORE sites for additional introduction of permanent needle disposal kiosks. These proposals should be viewed as a starting place for fruitful discussion and collaboration. OCNEP is dedicated to a cooperative relationship with the Council that reflects our shared commitment to and compassion for all Santa Ana community members. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, The Orange County Needle Exchange Program Dallas Augustine, Board of Directors Kyle Barbour, Board of Directors Nathan Birnbaum, Board of Directors Po Hsu, Board of Directors Sofia Laguna, Board of Directors Miriam McQuade, Board of Directors Meg Munoz, Board of Directors