Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2017-2018
Sharper Solutions a Sticky Situation That Won’t Go Away
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 12 findings
F1
The current SSP Advisory Group is composed of city and county employees as well as those working in the drug and rehabilitation community, with no members from the general public who can add a community perspective.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The SSP Advisory Group should include members of the general public, including at least one rehabilitated injection drug user. (F1)
F2
The SSP leadership creates an atmosphere of poor communication and a lack of transparency by not holding public meetings or forums for community input.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The SSP should hold public meetings or forums to encourage dialog and address community concerns. (F2, F3)
F3
The SSP provides an abundance of information on its webpage but does not have an avenue for public dialog.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The SSP should hold public meetings or forums to encourage dialog and address community concerns. (F2, F3)
F4
The SSP currently operates without a budget or permanent staff, which hinders the success of program goals.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Board of Supervisors should allocate funds for a permanent budget for the SSP to function as mandated per SSP Policy and Procedures. (F4)
F5
The SSP needle exchange site on Emeline Street is a confined shared space, making it difficult to provide all services to those in need.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The HSA should devote more time and resources to community outreach to promote rehabilitation and counselling of SSP clients. (F5, F6)
F6
Limited hours, space, and staff hamper referrals to counseling, treatment, and support programs, reducing the number of people receiving assistance.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The HSA should devote more time and resources to community outreach to promote rehabilitation and counselling of SSP clients. (F5, F6)
F7
The strict one-to-one needle exchange policy can’t be followed as the SSP policy prohibits the actual physical counting of syringes.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The SSP should stop using the “one-to-one” terminology to describe their needle exchange policy. (F7)
F8
Some injection drug users don’t travel to SSP exchange sites, thus preventing them from receiving assistance from other health programs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
The HSA should implement a mobile needle exchange unit to increase access to SSP services. (F8, F9)
F9
The community is at risk with syringes found in public and private spaces throughout the county.
Related Recommendations (4)
R6
The HSA should implement a mobile needle exchange unit to increase access to SSP services. (F8, F9)
R7
The HSA should post hazardous waste signs with a single contact number for advice or reporting, available 24/7, in areas where syringes are commonly found. (F9, F10)
R8
The HSA should install and maintain Sharps containers in bathrooms in high needle-use public areas. (F9, F11)
R9
The SSP should coordinate specific clean-up events throughout the county on a regular basis and report such efforts in their biennial and annual reports. (F9, F12)
F10
Without posted signage explaining how to report hazardous waste, the public is confused as to whom to notify or what action to take about found, discarded syringes.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The HSA should post hazardous waste signs with a single contact number for advice or reporting, available 24/7, in areas where syringes are commonly found. (F9, F10)
F11
There are only three county syringe disposal kiosks, limiting access to proper disposal.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The HSA should install and maintain Sharps containers in bathrooms in high needle-use public areas. (F9, F11)
F12
There is no combined syringe clean-up effort between local agencies to protect the public.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
The SSP should coordinate specific clean-up events throughout the county on a regular basis and report such efforts in their biennial and annual reports. (F9, F12)
Commendations 1
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CM1 Page 6C1. The Grand Jury commends the SSP staff for their commitment and resolve to this program under the most challenging of circumstances.
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
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