HOPE Squad
What is HOPE Squad?
The vision of HOPE Squad (Hepatitis C and Overdose Prevention Empowerment) is to address the Hepatitis C epidemic through community outreach, support, education, testing, medical engagement, and treatment.
Community members are encouraged to come to the group and participate in open and honest discussions about behaviors related to Hep C and discuss preventative measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of illness and injury using a harm-reduction lens. This is a judgment-free zone that values honesty and meeting participants where they are at, to more realistically and effectively address substance use and health and wellness regarding Hep C management and prevention.
HOPE Squad support group (1–2 pm)
Hep C Testing – Every Tuesday (2–4 pm)
Where?
San Francisco Community Health Center
730 Polk Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94109
For more information, contact Yuvy (He/Him) at yuval@sfcommunityhealth.org.
TAY Drop-In
Happening every Friday from 1–4 pm. We have expanded our services to serve youth aged 12 – 29 in San Francisco. We are located at SFCHC’s Audre Lorde room, 730 Polk St, 4th floor.
Sept 2 – Art Therapy: Postcard You’ll Never Send
Sept 9 – Project PILOT: Hep A, B, but mostly C*
Sept. 16 – Queer Sex Ed: Three Queer Renaissance**
Sept. 23 – Project PILOT: Legal Drugs*
Sept. 30 – Prison Abolition w/ Guest Speaker Em
We will have Snacks! Games! Movies! Prizes! & More!
*Project PILOT is a prevention & education curriculum that focuses on HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Substance Use prevention, and harm reduction. $20 gift card incentive!
**Queer Sex Ed is a discussion group about Sex Ed 101, Consent & Boundaries, Aftercare & Sexual Wellness, Sex Worker Advocacy, History of the Castro, and more. As always if there is something you want to discuss further, please reach out, as we would be glad to incorporate it into the conversations. $10 gift card incentive!
To stay updated on future Health Equity events & updates, follow us on Instagram @project_pilot_sf. For more information, email Xander (They/He/Fae) at Xander@sfcommunityhealth.org.
LGBTQ+ Tobacco Control Program
San Francisco Community Health Center’s LGBTQ+ Tobacco Control Program aims to reduce tobacco-related health disparities among the LGBTQ+ community through community health education, community organizing, and advocacy for tobacco-free policies in the San Francisco Bay Area. Components of this program include supporting local San Francisco Bay Area tobacco-control policies, working with local community colleges, development of LGBTQ+ specific tobacco health education materials, and community outreach/engagement.
UPDATE: COVID-19 and Tobacco
San Francisco Community Health Center recognizes this is a stressful time and people may find relief in smoking tobacco. We know that respiratory issues are higher in the LGBTQ+ community and consequently LGBTQ+ people are likely experiencing greater health impacts from COVID-19. See the videos produced by our colleagues about reducing stress here (link to online health services https://sfcommunityhealth.org/online-health-services/).
Below is information for community members interested in reducing their tobacco use and/or family members who want to support someone trying to quit smoking, especially during these uncertain times.
Resources
If you are thinking about changing your tobacco use:
· Call 1-800-NO-BUTTS for phone counseling and free nicotine patches (if eligible)
· Text “Quit Smoking” to 66819 for text-based counseling
· Visit KickItCalifornia, a free program that helps Californians kick smoking, vaping, and smokeless tobacco with the help of proven, science-based strategies. Take the first step toward quitting. https://kickitca.org/
· How to support someone when they decide to quit smoking (link to: https://lifehacker.com/how-to-support-someone-when-they-decide-to-quit-smoking-1705930730)
· How Ex-Smokers Can Help Someone Quit (link to: https://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/features/mentor-quit-smoking#1)
