Theme: Models of Care Year: 2025
| Background: End Hep C SF (EHCSF) is a multi-sector collective impact initiative working toward hepatitis C (HCV) elimination. In 2023, EHCSF collaborated with the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) on a Community Navigator-led (CN) assessment of naloxone access needs. Building on this, EHCSF expanded its collaboration with SFDPH in 2024 to investigate barriers to overdose prevention programming in permanent supportive housing (PSH), applying a syndemic approach linking HCV, substance use, and structural inequities. Since 2018, EHCSF’s CN program has trained and supported people with lived experience of HCV and substance use to advocate for others. The 2024 project aimed to enhance CN leadership, strengthen their role, and ensure community ownership of data informs programmatic and policy decisions.
Methods: Based on lessons learned from 2023, EHCSF expanded CN training sessions from one to three, deepening engagement in survey design and feedback. CNs led data collection with PSH residents, exploring barriers to overdose prevention services and perspectives on harm reduction strategies. Surveying included structured pre- and post-fieldwork debriefing. Following data collection, a process feedback session and a separate results presentation were held with CNs. EHCSF also coordinated with staff at survey sites for CN-led presentations of findings for participating residents. Results: CN leadership expanded through expanded training, survey development, data collection, and results dissemination. CN-led presentations strengthened relationships with residents and reinforced community ownership of the data. Findings identified structural and programmatic barriers to overdose prevention, shaping recommendations for PSH service improvements. Conclusion: This project demonstrates how community-led public health initiatives can enhance engagement, data credibility, and policy impact. By integrating 2023 lessons, EHCSF strengthened CN involvement in all phases of the needs assessment, improving SFDPH’s ability to align overdose prevention with resident needs. This iterative approach highlights the need for sustained community partnerships and peer leadership in harm reduction. |