H3RC staff members attended the Opening Day of the State Legislature on January 15 to share our policy priorities for the session with lawmakers and hand out free naloxone. Staff members from across our spectrum of programs joined Executive Director Heather Lusk, Policy & Advancement Manager Nikos Leverenz, and Director of Marketing & Development Andrew Ogata at the state capitol, including members of Kuaʻana (our transgender services program), Medical Case Management, Sexual Health, Tobacco Treatment, Behavioral Health, and our Hepatitis program.
This year we identified six policy areas to spotlight:
Updates to the state’s Syringe Exchange Program to align with identified best practices
Equity in housing and the fair treatment of unhoused residents
Culturally appropriate comprehensive behavioral healthcare,
Structural reforms to the legal system; reducing the criminalization of poverty, increasing access to community-based medical care, and reducing the impact of the criminal legal system on individuals and families
Expanding Hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment through increased funding and policy initiatives
Fair and equitable access to affirmative healthcare, mental health, and substance use treatment for LGBTQIA+ individuals as well as creating inclusive environments for LGBTQIA+ youth.
Included with this year’s list of priorities was an op-ed by HHHRC’s resident Tobacco Treatment Specialist, Donita Garcia. She shared her experiences with tobacco as both a former smoker and a fierce advocate for those trying to quit nicotine products.
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