Nonprofit

Street Outreach Supporters

Santa Cruz, CA | shootclean.org

About Us

Street Outreach Supporters (SOS)

the Santa Cruz Needle Exchange Program,

an HIV/HCV prevention community-based health project

www.shootclean.org

(831) 239-0657

Who We Are, What We Do

SOS started as a volunteer group supporting the needle exchanges in Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Salinas. We raised funds to make sure they had enough needles and supplies.

When the Drop-In Center in Santa Cruz closed in September 2009, we were able to keep exchange happening in a parking lot four times a week. A couple of months later, we were able to buy the liability insurance required to be officially authorized by the County.

We hold regular fund raising events, we hustle donations, and we've started to get some grants of money and supplies.

The County Health Services Agency supports us in many ways, for example, allowing us to use the County Health Outreach van (the one that was used for HIV testing before the funding was cut) for our exchange sites.

We're an independent all-volunteer group that's working to get our own legal non-profit status. Meanwhile, our relationship with the North American Syringe Exchange Network allows us to accept grants and donations as a 501(c)3 organization.

In addition to exchanging syringes, we provide free condoms, referrals to drug treatment programs, and many other harm reduction services. (from the official SOS website, shootclean.org)

Street Outreach Supporters (SOS) Mission

We are a community-based organization serving the injection drug using community of Santa Cruz County. Our goal is to slow the spread of blood-borne diseases such as HIV and HCV among drug users,their families and partners through a one-for-one exchange of syringes and by providing safer injecting supplies such as bleach and water. Another function of our program is to provide referrals to other social service agencies in Santa Cruz County. This includes referrals to drug treatment programs, HIV/HCV testing and food and shelter provision. Through these means we are able to help program participants improve the quality of their physical and mental health as well as the overall reduction of drug-related harm.

In the face of depleting social and medical services and a culture that emphasizes punishment and blame over support and compassion, SOS strives to promote a sense of community and a belief that all humans should be treated with dignity and respect. (From SOS training curriculum)

Street Outreach Supporters (SOS)

the Santa Cruz Needle Exchange Program,

an HIV/HCV prevention community-based health project

www.shootclean.org

(831) 239-0657

Who We Are, What We Do

SOS started as a volunteer group supporting the needle…

Location

  • Santa Cruz, CA, United States
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