Every week, we report on the Philadelphia Resilience Project, the City’s emergency response to combat the opioid crisis. Right now, the efforts are focused on Kensington and surrounding neighborhoods – the epicenter of the opioid crisis – but we expect to expand to other sections of the city as needed.
This week, we worked on new policy to guide our work in preventing future encampments from forming, prepared for the launch of a Safe Routes to Schools pilot, planned for the next large-scale volunteer cleanup on December 8, and more.
Mission Area 1: Clear Encampments – Progress as of November 23, 2018 | |
Outstanding Immediate Goals | |
In coordination with Mission Areas 3 and 6, solidify housing plans for 100 percent of Frankford encampment individuals who are relocated to the Navigation Center within 30 days of intake. | Completed and ongoing. 34 people on the “By Name List” are at the Kensington Navigation Center as of November 16 and each has a housing plan. |
Prevent unsafe squatting and the formation of new encampments on all vacant properties within the target area by November 15. | In progress. We are continuing to complete block-by-block surveys, and mapping is being updated to inform strategy. |
Short Term Goals | |
Begin outreach to clear Emerald Street Encampment by January 15 | In progress. |
Develop comprehensive strategy to prevent encampments from relocating or reforming. | We are working with Law to develop an encampment policy which will: 1) define encampments and prevention strategies; 2) address tent removal for safety; and 3) make a provision of food for health and safety compliance.
Law, L&I, and CLIP are also developing a strategy, in coordination with Revenue, for 900 parcels without tax compliance and for which no owner exists. We are also considering a strategy for other publicly-owned properties (SEPTA/ConRail/PECO/PHA). A letter will soon be issued to PHA for its 400 vacant lots. |
In coordination with Mission Area 4 (Trash and Litter), and Mission Area 2 (Public Safety) decrease short-dumping in the target area. | Philly Parks & Rec workers cleaned up Hope Park (215 E Indiana St) on November 17 from 10am-2pm. They picked up nearly three tons of trash, including three short dumps. |
In coordination with Mission Areas 3 (Reduce Homelessness) and 6 (Increase Treatment) bring additional services to the Navigation Center. | Services are ready to be scheduled for wound care, immunization, and triage at Navigation Center. |
Review and develop policies to promote the safety, security, and civil rights of Kensington community members, including homeless individuals with drug addiction. | In progress. |
Mission Area 2: Reduce Criminal Activity – Progress as of November 23, 2018 | |
Outstanding Immediate Goals | |
Reduce injection drug use. Cut down demand for drugs. | In progress. We are organizing an outreach team to be escorted by Police to begin work along the Kensington Ave. corridor between Thanksgiving and Christmas. |
Create and strengthen existing safe corridor routes for travel to and from school. | In progress. Elkin and Willard Schools Safe Corridors routes will be implemented week of November 26 with plans to expand the program to all schools in the area. |
Increase safety measures for children using foot and bike patrols, plus daily school checks. | In progress. Four police officers have been dedicated to designated schools Mondays through Fridays, with specific service detail staff dedicated to all schools in the 25th, 25th, and 26th districts. |
Short Term Goals | |
Enhance federal and state partnerships to address narcotic supply and distribution | In progress and ongoing. |
Create and strengthen existing Safe Corridor routes for travel to and from school. | Safe Corridor route to Willard and Elkin School expected to begin by November 29. Training and recruiting volunteers is ongoing for remaining schools in the area. |
Engage the community and ensure they are aware that their needs are being addressed. | In progress and ongoing. |
Mission 3: Reduce Unsheltered Population – Progress as of November 23, 2018 | |
Outstanding Immediate Goals | |
Identify a temporary site for a 24-hour Navigation Center including respite and wrap-around services. | In progress. Potential sites have been assessed, but no site has been confirmed. |
Create a by-name list of unsheltered persons in the area and redeploy community outreach resources to ensure that the mission area is reaching as much of the target population as possible. | In progress. There is currently a by-name list for Frankford and Emerald encampments. A by-name list for the Kensington area is in development. |
Develop a strategy to bring in public and health services. | In progress. A budget proposal for a Navigation Center with wrap-around services has been developed and is awaiting Finance review.
Several organizations met with OHS on November 15 to discuss the provision of services focusing on the needs of those actively using in the Kensington community-at-large, incorporating housing options into the program. |
Short Term Goals | |
Explore intermediate housing, inspired by Seattle’s use of Tiny Houses. | No updates to share at this time. |
Open temporary Navigation Center, with plans to move people through and out of it and into temporary housing. | Planning continues to secure a site for the comprehensive Navigation Center. |
Bring public services on site to provide access to treatment, employment services, ID registration, and recovery assistance, and to work towards preventing the spread of communicable diseases. | Held an initial meeting and a follow-up meeting to meet with interested organizations for bringing in volunteer and health services is scheduled for November 29. |
Develop a housing exit strategy by creating a program to ensure that there is a flow of people through the Navigation Center and on to longer term housing with the end goal of self-sufficiency and rehabilitation. | No updates to share at this time. |
Mission 4: Reduce Trash and Litter – Progress as of November 23, 2018 | |
Short Term Goals | |
Attempt to engage prison system to have weekenders prisoners assist with cleaning areas in the grid | In progress. |
Continuous clean up efforts within the initial clean up area | This is complete and ongoing. |
Coordinate with School District to ensure Safe Corridors are blight-free. | In progress. |
Coordinate with Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet and incorporate some of their their mission goals | In progress. |
Engage Environmental Crime Unit to investigate illegal dumping. | In progress. |
Engage with SEPTA to discuss the installation of trash receptacles at EL stop entrances along Kensington Ave. | In progress. |
Identify process for additional placement of trash receptacles and ongoing collection responsibilities. | In progress |
Support efforts to expand operation geographically. | No updates to share at this time. |
Mission 5: Reduce Overdoses – Progress as of November 23, 2018 | |
Outstanding Immediate Goals | |
Prevent outbreak of Hepatitis A among homeless individuals and injection drug users in the Kensington area. | Complete and ongoing. Outreach teams have been vaccinating in Kensington weekly. Focus has been in encampments and for those experiencing homelessness. Hepatitis A immunization of homeless and injection drug using populations has been implemented by street-side outreach. To date, 268 people have been immunized. Surveillance for cases of acute hepatitis A in Kensington has been implemented. There have been no cases of hepatitis A identified in the area. |
Prevent transmission of HIV infection through injection drug use. | Complete and ongoing. All service agencies and healthcare providers in Kensington area have been asked to increase HIV screening activities among drug users by at least 25% and HIV testing sites in Kensington have increased the number of tests performed by 31%. HIV surveillance data reports are distributed biweekly to key partners. 91% of injection drug users with new HIV infection were linked to medical care within 30 days. |
Create risk-based model for identifying individuals who have experienced previous overdose and are at highest risk for a subsequent overdose so they can be referred for services. | In progress. It is in development and dependent on the establishment of a data-sharing agreement (outlined below). |
Implement name-based data sharing and/or reporting of non-fatal overdoses and opioid-related risk conditions, so that highest-risk individuals can be referred for services by November 16. | In progress. A data-sharing agreement has been drafted and is under review by Law Department. Meetings to discuss data-sharing across City departments and the creation of a high-risk client list are occurring weekly with all relevant partners. Public Health has been tasked with being the “manager” of the high-risk client list, but access is granted to those providing services. |
Short Term Goals | |
Increase distribution of naloxone (Narcan) and related training. | In progress. Narcan information and PSAs are being collected and evaluated. |
Create or enhance data systems, data management, data integrity, and data analytic capabilities in various city agencies. | A job description for data analyst/epidemiologist was created for enhancing capacity in the Fire Department/EMS. Recruitment of candidates is underway. |
Expand mobile or field-based distribution of Medical Assisted Treatment (MAT). | See below for update in Mission Area 6. |
Provide each EMS provider medic unit with a smartphone to capture overdose data to be reported to OD Map (which is used by DVIC for tracking). | Complete and ongoing. |
Mission 6: Increase Treatment Options & Access – Progress as of November 23, 2018 | |
Outstanding Immediate Goals | |
Disseminate information on treatment access. | In progress and ongoing. Accessing Treatment & MAT Provider List has been published to the DBHIDS website. CBH Member Services and two CPS from DBHIDS are onsite weekly on Wednesdays at the Mural Arts Storefront in Kensington. CBH Member Services was at a community event on November 14 will be training 311 on accessing treatment and CBH Member Services as a resource from November 28 – December 5. |
Deploy mobile outreach team including medical professionals to provide Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) in the field. | In progress and ongoing. Through the fifth week of mobile services (week of 11/11 – 11/17), Prevention Point’s Mobile Engagement Unit has seen 56 individuals for wound care and initiated 14 individuals on MAT.
During the week of November 5, the newly launched Mobile Outreach Program at Merakey Parkside Recovery engaged 17 individuals [95 for cumulative total]. Starting the week of November 19, Clean Slate is sending a Certified Peer Specialist to engage individuals at the encampments and provide additional resources. |
Launch treatment capacity database. | This has been moved to long term. Final drafts are being refined for live posting. It requires further testing to ensure accuracy of data. |
Short Term Goals | |
Expand warm hand-offs between emergency departments and treatment options. | Between October 7 and November 17, 215 warm hand-offs were accomplished. Note this has been moved to a long-term goal. Alternate funding opportunities will be explored. |
Expand Police Assisted Diversion (PAD) into East Division. | Have been working in partnership with Mission Area 2 to implement PAD program in East Police Division. |
Incorporate withdrawal management into the Journey of Hope Project. | This will be moved to a long-term goal. RHD is pending a DEA license and physical modifications to two sites. |
Mission 7: Mobilize Community Response – Progress as of November 23, 2018 | |
Outstanding Immediate Goals | |
Identify potential funding partners and engage an external fundraiser. | In progress. A RFP was issued for a consultant to develop a fundraising and partnership plan with philanthropy and private funders. Deadline for submissions was November 15. |
Direct engagement with Kensington/Fairhill community. | In progress and ongoing. Community engagement continues through partnering with residents and local community leaders on beautification projects, participating in community meetings, and other events. A large community meeting with representatives of local community-based organizations and faith-based organizations was held on November 16. |
Create targeted information and resources for neighborhood leaders. | In progress and ongoing. |
Create promotional materials to share at libraries, rec centers, schools, and throughout the community. | In progress and ongoing. |
Ensure all materials are understandable and meet other Access and Functional Needs (AFN) requirements. | In progress and ongoing. |
Increase frequency of communication to residents providing status of the Philadelphia Resilience Project. | In progress and ongoing. |
Short Term Goals | |
Identify community members that may need newsletter and communications in Spanish. | In progress and ongoing. |
Engage Council Members. | In progress and ongoing. |
Engage with the We Love You Foundation. | No updates at this time. |
Empower existing volunteers to recruit new volunteers from within their networks. | No updates at this time. |
Offer corporations a day of service. | No updates at this time. |
Purchase additional safety kits to support cleanup operations. | No updates at this time. |
Stand up a Community Advisory Group of 12-13 people (or groups) to give feedback and guide future engagement. | In progress. |
Enable residents to be stewards of their block through meetings, cleanups and social events. | In progress. |
Engage CDCs and nonprofits to strengthen relationships, and more conversation. | In progress and ongoing. |
Open door 311 center for opioids in the neighborhood with 1 staff member. | In progress. |