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The Broome County Health Department announced today the recipients of the opioid overdose prevention funding grants. $13,000 was made available to partner with subcontractors in Broome County for a mini-grant program to support local organizations working to fight the opioid epidemic in our communities.

The funds were awarded to two Broome County agencies and include: The Addiction Center of Broome County (ACBC) and Truth Pharm. Activities awarded include work to strengthen opioid related education and harm reduction tools in Broome County including access to Narcan and increasing the awareness of resources for those with a substance use disorder.

“I am excited about the projects awarded and look forward to seeing the work in action. It’s great to offer our community partners the opportunity to explore new ways of saving lives and reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorders, added Marissa Knapp, Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator.          

Applicants were awarded $6,500 for each project.  Contractors will have until 12/31/2022 to complete the proposed activities. Executive Director of Truth Pharm, Alexis Pleus said “I am excited and thankful to be supported by Broome County to continue our lifesaving work. The training we developed and delivered under a grant from Broome County in 2019 saved multiple lives as reported to us by the locations where we provided the training. Together we can raise awareness and end overdose fatalities in our communities.”

“The Addiction Center of Broome County is very pleased to be awarded a mini-grant from the Broome Opioid Abuse Council,” said Carmela Pirich of ACBC. “The funds will be put to good use, in providing a harm reduction vending machine, to give people in the community ready access to harm reduction supplies.”

“Today we will partner for a better tomorrow to save more lives in Broome County,” added Jason Garnar, Broome County Executive. “These grassroots efforts will be another step in building the foundation of prevention, education, treatment and recovery.”

Broome Opioid Awareness Council (BOAC) announced today that it is releasing funds for another year of opioid overdose mini grants. Awards will range, with up to $13,000 in funding available.  Projects will be funded depending on the scope of the project.

The funds will be available to non-profit organizations, community agencies, municipalities, and schools to develop, enhance, or establish opioid awareness related activities in Broome County. 

Previous awards have supported prevention programming, education, training community members in Narcan and harm reduction, along with other services to help those in treatment with a substance use disorder.

“Fighting this public health epidemic takes a multi-faceted approach, and we are excited to offer our community partners the opportunity to again explore new ways of saving lives and reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorders,” stated Mary McFadden, Interim Director of Public Health.    

“We saw some great projects the last 3 years and again are looking for innovative projects to tackle this complex public health subject area which impacts all people in our community”, added Marissa Knapp, Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator.      

The grant applications can be found at https://forms.office.com/g/0pnR5XS9Rm. This link can also be found on the Health Department social media and website. Applications are now being accepted; the application portal will close on March 2nd at 4:00 PM.

Successful applicants will be awarded a contract until November 30, 2022, contingent upon successful program performance.

“We continue to combat the opioid epidemic in Broome County and are thankful to the many community agencies who work to save lives in our area,” added Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. “These awarded funds continue to support organizations focused on prevention, education, treatment and recovery in Broome County.”

Broome County has received reports of increased suspected overdoses during the past few days. The Broome Opioid Awareness Council (BOAC) wants to encourage those with a substance use disorder to practice harm reduction strategies and to not use alone, have a Narcan kit available, use fentanyl test strips, and if you are on the site of an overdose call 911.

Both in person and virtual Narcan trainings are offered throughout the county. Having Narcan on site can save lives during an overdose. Community resources of free Narcan trainings are:

• The Addiction Center of Broome County: 30 State Street, Binghamton, NY, 13901. (607) 723- 7308.
• Helio Health: 249 Glenwood Road, Binghamton, NY, 13905. (607) 296-3072.
• Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP): 277 Main Street, Johnson City, NY, 13790. (607) 237-0497
• Truth Pharm: 49 Pine Street, Suite 6, Binghamton, NY, 13901. (607) 296-3016.
• United Health Services (UHS): (607) 762-2200. For UHS Addiction Medicine, call (607) 762-2901.

You can simply call, text, reach out on Facebook, or send an email and you will be connected with a staff member who will ask you a few questions and set up a training or train you on the spot. The Broome County Health Department would also like to remind those of the “Good Samaritan Law” which protects all involved when seeking assistance regarding a possible overdose.

BOAC also wants to remind those who use substances about the Never Use Alone hotline- simply call 1-800-997-2280 and speak to someone judgement free. Fentanyl test strips are also available in Broome County. Community members can reach out to 2-1-1 for more information on how to get the fentanyl test strips.

For more information and where to find phone numbers visit: broomecountyny.gov/boac.

Broome County has received reports of increased overdoses during the past week. The Broome Opioid Awareness Council (BOAC) encourages anyone who uses drugs recreationally or daily to practice harm reduction strategies, to not use alone, have a Narcan kit available, regularly use fentanyl test strips, and call 911 if you are on the site of an overdose.

Both in-person and virtual Narcan trainings are offered throughout the county. The Addiction Center of Broome County (ACBC), Helio Health, Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP), Truth Pharm, and United Health Services all offer quick and easy trainings. You can simply call, text, reach out on Facebook, or send an email and you will be connected with a staff member who will ask you a few questions and set up a training or train you on the spot. It’s especially important now more than ever to check on those with a substance use disorder and make sure both the family and the person who uses drugs have a lifesaving Narcan kit.

Narcan is the drug used to reverse an overdose of opioids including heroin and prescription pain pills like morphine, codeine, methadone and Vicodin. Participants will learn about overdose prevention and how to correctly administer Narcan.

Community members can also visit their local pharmacy and use the Naloxone Co-payment Assistance Program (N-CAP), no prior prescription from a medical provider is needed. Call your pharmacy ahead to ensure availability.

Additionally, support groups like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), counseling and services provided by local agencies are returning to in person and many are still being offered virtually. Residents can also call 211 24 hours a day for additional information.

For more information and where to find phone numbers visit: broomecountyny.gov/boac.

Cancer Services Program Urges Women to Get Mammogram

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s common to hear about pink ribbons, events promoting screenings, support services and finding a cure this time of year. While the GET SCREENED FOR BREAST CANCER seems to be a simple message, it may not seem that simple to those who do not have health insurance to cover these screening services. Fortunately, there is help.

The New York State Cancer Services Program (CSP) provides breast cancer screenings to women ages 40 and older without health insurance.  If any follow-up testing is needed, the CSP will provide those tests too.  If cancer is found, our program will help enroll people who are eligible in the NYS Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program for full Medicaid coverage during treatment.

“The CSP is here to serve our community with education about breast cancer and to provide breast cancer screenings to women who are uninsured” says Carrie Horton, Coordinator of the Southern Tier Cancer Services Program. “We don’t want the lack of health insurance to deter women from getting screened.”

Brittany Follis Freeman of Endicott, NY, lost her health insurance when she lost her job. Her priority was to make sure her son had health insurance, so she went without due to the cost. In July 2020, she had tenderness in her breast and decided to see a health care provider. She was immediately referred to a breast care center where she underwent a biopsy.

“The next day my surgeon called. I sat on my bed next to my fiancé, hearing the words on speakerphone, ‘You have breast cancer’,” Brittany said.

She was referred to the Southern Tier Cancer Services Program that paid for her screenings, diagnostic follow-up procedures and applied for the Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program for health insurance throughout her treatment. Brittany underwent 6 rounds of chemotherapy, 12 rounds of HER-2 treatments, radiation, a double mastectomy, and an oophorectomy.

“The whole experience with the Cancer Services Program was amazing and would highly recommend it to any and all women who are uninsured,” Brittany added. “The whole process to get covered was easy and fast. I am forever grateful for the overall experience and I cannot imagine the hardship I would have to face without the help of the Cancer Services Program and their assistance with applying for the Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program.”   

Call the CSP at 607-778-3900 for more information about services and programs. In addition to breast cancer screening, the CSP provides cervical cancer screening to women ages 40 and older and colon cancer screening to men and women ages 50 and older. Some women and men should be tested at a younger age depending on their risk factors and any symptoms. A simple phone call can be lifesaving.

To recognize the importance of immunizations for people of all ages, the Broome County Health Department is joining with partners nationwide in recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM).

Vaccines are the best protection against the diseases they prevent. They are safe and effective. The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines save approximately 2-3 million lives every year. Children can be protected against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases by the age of two and 16 diseases by the age of 18.

On-time vaccination is key to avoiding vaccine-preventable illnesses. Un- or under-vaccinated people are at increased risk for diseases and can spread them to others in their community- including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer or other health conditions. The illnesses that vaccines prevent are serious and can cause permanent disability or death.

“Broome County residents have the power to protect themselves and their families across the lifespan- through infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy, and even into old age,” says Chelsea Reome-Nedlik, Public Health Educator at BCHD. “Talk to your healthcare provider to determine which vaccines are right for you.”

Vaccine costs may be covered by your insurance. If you do not have insurance or if you are unable to afford immunizations, you may qualify for assistance. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay. The New York State Vaccines for Adults (VFA) program provides vaccines at no cost to eligible adults, including those who are uninsured or underinsured.

For more information, talk to your healthcare provider or call the Broome County Health Department at (607) 778-2839.

One of Eight Nationwide “Gold Innovative Practice Awardee” in 2021 

  Binghamton, NY – Broome County’s efforts to increase testing throughout the community has received national recognition. The County Health Department was honored with the 2021 Gold Innovative Practice Award by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its mobile testing lab.

“We are proud to receive NACCHO’s Gold Innovative Practice Award.  The award is evidence of our commitment to developing responsive and innovative public health programs that improve the health of local residents,” said Rebecca Kaufman, Director of Public Health for Broome County Health Department.  

The Broome County Mobile COVID-19 Rapid Testing Site Project was one of eight local health department programs to receive NACCHO’s Gold Innovative Practice Award. The award celebrates local health departments for developing innovative programs to meet the needs of their community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The designation as a Gold Innovative Practice demonstrates the highest level of program innovation and reflects the collaboration, adaptability, and program resilience.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Broome County Health Department identified access to testing as a significant public health issue in our community. After receiving ten rapid testing machines from New York State, the Health Department started a mobile testing site to expand COVID-19 testing in underserved areas, and those areas with a high COVID-19 positivity rate. The “lab bus” as it was affectionally termed, was a retrofitted Broome County Transit bus, turned into a testing laboratory.

The bus was overseen, staffed and mobilized through a partnership of Broome County Departments and community partners that provided 6,174 tests with an overall positivity rate of 11%. The Mobile COVID-19 Testing Site was considered successful because it provided access to areas where testing opportunities were minimal and found high numbers of positive cases. This allowed the County Health Department to begin the contact tracing process in a timely fashion and help to curb the spread of COVID-19 in vulnerable populations.     

NACCHO’s Diamond Affiliate Partner, Contakt World is sponsoring the 2021 Innovative Practice Award. As the 2021 award sponsor, Contakt World will award Broome County Health Department a $7,000 in-kind contribution of their public health services. In addition, the Health Department will receive a complementary registration to NACCHO’s annual conference, NACCHO 360.

Broome County Health Department (BCHD) has observed an increase in reported tickborne illnesses. As Broome County residents spend more time outdoors this summer, they should be vigilant for ticks and take precautions to protect themselves from tickborne diseases.

Lyme disease is the most commonly-known tickborne disease, but according to NYS Department of Health, others are on the rise in Broome County. From 2014 to 2019, the estimated number of Lyme disease cases increased from 152 to 330 (note: 2019 data is provisional at time of writing). In 2014 there were 0 cases of anaplasmosis compared to 23 cases in 2019. Already in 2021, BCHD has reported 20 cases of anaplasmosis. Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever cases have also increased but remain low.

Tickborne diseases are spread to humans through the bite of an infected tick. According to the CDC, common symptoms include body/ muscle aches, fever, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, stiff neck and facial paralysis. Lyme disease can produce an erythema migrans (bullseye) rash but not always. The rash generally expands but does not always appear as the trademark “bullseye”.

Ticks can be found in wooded or grassy areas, including lawns. “Ticks cannot fly or jump. They like to rest on low-lying vegetation and in leaf litter.  Ticks attach to a passing animal or person. Once on a body, ticks often attach to the more hidden areas such as the groin, armpit and scalp,” said Victoria Perkins, Senior Public Health Sanitarian at the Broome County Health Department. Ticks can be hard to see due to their small size.

There are some precautions Broome County residents can take to minimize their chance of being bitten by a tick.

• When spending time outdoors, wear light-colored clothing and tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants.
• Perform frequent tick checks on skin and clothing. Ticks do not typically attach right away. Brush them off before they can attach.
• Do a full-body tick check at the end of the day and shower as soon as possible after being outdoors. Showering will wash away ticks that haven’t attached yet.
• Use repellants containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or para-methane-diol (PMD). Always follow product instructions.
• Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% Permethrin. Always follow product instructions.

If you do find an attached tick, remove it as soon as possible. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk. Clean the bite area and your hands after removing the tick and dispose of the tick by putting it in a sealed bag or flushing it down the toilet. If the tick is found to be engorged or you believe that it has been attached for more than 36 hours, contact your healthcare provider.

For more information about tickborne diseases visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html and the New York State Department of Health’s website at https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/lyme/

(Binghamton, NY) The Broome County Health Department announced today the recipients of the opioid overdose prevention funding grants. $40,000 was made available from a New York State Department of Health grant to partner with subcontractors in Broome County for a mini-grant program to support local organizations working to fight the opioid epidemic in our communities.

The funds were awarded to two Broome County agencies and include: The Addiction Center of Broome County (ACBC) and Truth Pharm. Activities awarded include work to strengthen the peer programs in Broome County and opioid related education surrounding harm reduction, access to Narcan and increasing the awareness of resources for those with a Substance Use Disorder in Broome County.  

“I am excited about the projects awarded and look forward to seeing the work in action. It’s great to offer our community partners the opportunity to explore new ways of saving lives and reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorders, added Marissa Knapp, Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator.          

“Today we will partner for a better tomorrow to save more lives in Broome County,” added Jason Garnar, Broome County Executive. “These grassroots efforts will be another step in building the foundation of prevention, education, treatment and recovery.”

Applicants were awarded $10,000 for each proposed project. ACBC was awarded $10,000 to complete one project and Truth Pharm $30,000 to focus on 3 seperate projects.  Contractors will have until 8/31/2021 to complete their proposed activities.

“The Addiction Center of Broome County is truly grateful to the Broome Opioid Awareness Council for the $10,000 Mini grant award, that will go towards harm reduction supplies for participants in its new second tier syringe exchange,” said Carmela Pirich, Executive Director for ACBC. “Much appreciation to those in the community who are keeping vulnerable populations in mind during these difficult times.”

“Truth Pharm is beyond grateful to the Broome Opioid Awareness Council for our continued collaborative work to serve our community residents, to reduce the harms of substance use and to reduce overdose fatalities,” said Alexis Pleus, Executive Director of Truth Pharm. “We look forward to serving our community on these fast-paced projects.” 

(BINGHAMTON, NY) – Broome County Health Department is celebrating National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) from April 24- May 1, 2021. NIIW is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities.

Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. Among children born during 1994-2016, vaccination will prevent an estimated 381 million illnesses, 24.5 million hospitalizations, and 855,000 deaths over the course of their lifetimes.

Most parents choose the safe, proven protection of vaccines. Giving babies the recommended immunizations by age two is the best way to protect them from 14 serious childhood diseases, like polio, whooping cough and measles. Vaccines are rigorously and continuously monitored for safety once they are licensed or approved.

Although vaccines are in the spotlight due to COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that routine childhood immunization rates have decreased during the pandemic. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatricians recommend keeping up with routine infant and childhood immunizations, despite the pandemic. “I encourage parents/ guardians to schedule a visit with their pediatrician to get caught up or stay on track with your child’s immunizations,” says Chelsea Reome-Nedlik, Public Health Educator with Broome County Health Department, “If you’re concerned about COVID-19 safety, rest assured that healthcare providers are taking every precaution to make office visits safe.”

Vaccine costs may be covered by your health insurance, or through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. VFC is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay. Call the Broome County Health Department at 607-778-2839 with questions about the VFC program or your child’s immunizations.