THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
This item supports the Commission Value of "Approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable," and the Goals to "Deliver evidence-based services to the public, and connect customers and their family members, to sustainable support, with special emphasis on financial supports" and "Collaborate with public and private partners to find creative, equitable, and responsible solutions to systemic community problems, especially permanent supportive housing for persons experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness."
The collaboration with the BCHD allows the NJCC to offer sexual assault victims in Broward County the opportunity to obtain STI and HIV counseling, testing or referral services as well as critical nPEP treatment.
Through MOA BR992, the NJCC will be enrolled with the State of Florida Department of Health as a Non-Health Care Setting HIV Counseling and Testing site for sexual assault victims completing a sexual assault medical examination. This MOA also provides for training for NJCC staff in HIV/AIDS counseling, testing and linkage and for partner services and linkage to care for all clients with a positive HIV test.
The framework created by Agreement BR882, facilitates the provision of nPEP treatment to victims completing a sexual assault medical examination at the NJCC and coordinates the testing and transportation of biological samples obtained by NJCC from nPEP eligible clients to the State of Florida, Department of Health's Bureau of Laboratories in Miami, Florida. Before this Agreement, sexual assault victims were referred to a community-based provider to receive HIV testing. Providing this service on site, will not only be more convenient and accessible, but will also reduce the possibility of re-traumatizing sexual assault victims by eliminating the need to visit additional facilities to seek treatment. Furthermore, the timely issuance of nPEP treatment will contribute to controlling the presence and spread of HIV contraction and protects the health of all residents and visitors to Broward County.
There is no fiscal impact related to the MOA and Agreement as testing, counseling and referral services will be performed by existing NJCC staff. All testing materials will be provided to NJCC at no cost. The MOA and Agreement are in the BCHD's format and have been approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney. BCHD will sign following Board approval. |