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123 <br /> February 12,2025 <br /> To whom it may concern, <br /> It is our pleasure to write in fervent support of the Student Health Action Coalition Syringe Service <br /> Program's(SHAC SSP)application for Orange County Opioid Settlement Funds. We represent the <br /> overarching organization, SHAC,under which SHAC SSP is housed. Our mission is to provide health <br /> care services and social needs support to vulnerable and marginalized groups in our local community at <br /> no cost. SHAC SSP's mission supports that of our organization in providing nonjudgmental support <br /> services for individuals who use drugs, including free harm reduction supplies, education for drug testing <br /> and overdose response,naloxone training, and bridging to additional medical and social needs support. <br /> SHAC SSP is one of few organizations in the area that provide direct services to people living with opioid <br /> and/or substance use disorder and is the only SSP providing weekly drop-in supply shifts in Orange <br /> County. SHAC SSP fills a previously unmet need in our community, and we strongly support the <br /> organization. <br /> Over the past year SHAC SSP strengthened connections with SHAC Medical Clinic and SHAC <br /> Dental,including but not limited to,making Naloxone available in clinic as well as providing <br /> Naloxone administration trainings for volunteers and patients.Naloxone is a lifesaving medication that <br /> our weekly medical clinic and patients would otherwise not have access to. This initiative was years in <br /> the making but including SSP in conversations helped move the initiative quickly to garner results <br /> within a matter of months. Additionally,this year, SHAC SSP implemented a new supply distribution <br /> shift weekly at an additional location including recruiting volunteers, developing marketing,and <br /> installing signage. SHAC SSP was also able to hire a program navigator due to their exponential <br /> growth based on community demand. This new team member brought years of experience and <br /> expertise to SHAC SSP and was able to streamline existing operations as well as develop and <br /> implement new programs over the past year. In sum, SHAC SSP increased the number of syringes and <br /> doses of naloxone distributed by over 100%compared to prior years. SHAC SSP is an invaluable <br /> resource to the Orange County community, and we fully support their application for funding. <br /> Thank you for considering SHAC SSP. Please feel free to contact us with any additional questions. <br /> Best regards, <br /> Anysa Z. Fe andez Ryan M. Trate <br /> Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer <br /> Student Health Action Coalition Student Health Action Coalition <br /> shac_ceo@med.unc.edu shac_ceo@med.unc.edu <br />