HIPS

Vaccine Ambassadors 

HIPS has strong relationships with participants and actively hires from the community. Building on the relationship HIPS cultivates with their community, they hired participants as peer vaccine ambassadors to address vaccine hesitancy and dispel misinformation.

Vending Machines 

Responding to community need for supplies, HIPS leveraged their partnerships with the Washington DC Health Department to implement a Harm Reduction vending machine program at 2 approved sites.

Expanded Locations 

HIPS has sought to expand services to new neighborhoods. Participants spend time improving access to referral services. Partnering with other organizations in a community center allows outreach staff to connect participants with social services such as getting personal identification, applying for social services, and accessing resources.

Vaccine Supply Partnership

The DC Department of Health has provided COVID vaccine for HIPS-affiliated medical providers to administer onsite, which has been crucial for the success of the SSP vaccination project. Despite the need for ongoing efforts to maintain financial sustainability, McCullough expressed appreciation for the resources and assets they are able to tap into locally. 

Medical Services Capacity 

Like many SSPs, integrating full medical and vaccine services is a significant challenge. Funding, billing for services in an anonymous and low-barrier way, as well as staffing and space restraints, are some of the challenges to expanding medical services. HIPS worked to overcome these obstacles by partnering with their local health department to schedule vaccination events for the community.

Surveillance 

SSP participants and the general public experience significant video surveillance and police presence in Washington DC. There are at least 35 police departments or “public safety agencies” within the 68 square miles of DC, more than 1 agency per 2 square miles! Staff noted challenges as gentrification and marijuana regulation collide, explaining their participants are often blamed by community for effects related to the rapid influx of dispensaries, though they generally cannot afford to patronize these new businesses.