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about us

MISSION

To maximize the health and wellness of all Allegheny County residents living with and at risk for hepatitis C by expanding prevention, harm reduction, education, testing, and timely access to care and treatment. 

VISION

Hep C Free Allegheny envisions a county where new hepatitis C infections are rare and quickly identified, and people with hepatitis C are rapidly linked to care and treated, reducing hepatitis C related inequities. 

VALUES

 

Equity 

We believe in health justice, recognizing that discrimination and stigma have contributed to the current hepatitis C epidemic we face. We believe that all people deserve access to testing and treatment.

Collaboration 

We approach hepatitis C as an intersectional issue, recognizing that the opioid, HIV, and hepatitis epidemics are closely intertwined. We are a multi-sectoral effort, involving people from many disciplines and empowering people living with or at risk for hepatitis C to have a meaningful role in our work. 

Advocacy 

We address issues of equity through education and awareness, as well by changing our policies and structures to remove obstacles to hepatitis C prevention and care. 

Evidence Based

We recognize harm reduction as an evidenced-based practice to reduce hepatitis C. We use data to drive our decision-making, and to evaluate our progress toward eliminating hepatitis C, including reducing hepatitis C related inequities. 

 

1. Surveillance: Collect and analyze data to estimate the number of persons infected, tested, successfully treated, and with long-term complications in Allegheny County.

2. Testing & Linkage to Care:  Expand hepatitis C screening and confirmatory testing, and ensure that people diagnosed with hepatitis C are linked to care, treatment, and supportive services. 

 

3. Treatment Expansion: Train healthcare providers to treat hepatitis C infection and develop new models of care in a variety of settings. 

 

4. Education, Prevention, & Advocacy: Educate health and human service providers and the public on hepatitis C prevention, screening, and treatment and increase access to evidence-based substance use treatment and harm reduction strategies. Activate and center the voice of consumers through our advocacy initiatives.

1-1: Provide estimates for the number of people living with hepatitis C infection


1-2: Monitor the number of new infections


1-3: Monitor access to testing for hepatitis C among high-risk populations


1-4: Monitor the number of people successfully treated for hepatitis C


1-5: Monitor complications associated with hepatitis C infection


1-6: Identify and monitor infants at risk for perinatal hepatitis C infection 


1-7: Disseminate data on hepatitis C measures to providers, the public, and other stakeholders

2-1: Implement hepatitis C screening of all adults and adolescents in targeted high-risk settings including but not limited to emergency departments, OB/GYN practices, drug and alcohol facilities, and correctional facilities


2-2: Increase testing among priority populations, including but not limited to the Act 87 Birth Cohort, women of reproductive age, pregnant women, people who use drugs, and people experiencing homelessness


2-3: Ensure reflex confirmatory testing for all people tested for hepatitis C  


2-4: Build a system to connect all diagnosed people to hepatitis C care and treatment 


2-5 Implement current and future screening guidelines for hepatitis C within primary care

3-1: Expand hepatitis C treatment in Allegheny County through our Primary Care Hepatitis C Treatment Training Program and other training opportunities as available 


3-2: Expand access to hepatitis C treatment in community clinics, healthcare settings, methadone clinics, correctional facilities, and drug and alcohol facilities  

3-3: Improve treatment options for people who use drugs across many different settings

 

 

 

 

4-1: Educate the community about hepatitis C prevention, screening, linkage to care, and the intersection of the opioid epidemic and hepatitis C to reduce stigma


4-2: Participate in advocacy to promote Hep C Free Allegheny’s mission locally/state-wide 


4-3: Collect new and leverage existing data, to measure the impact of education, prevention, and advocacy efforts 


4-4: Engage a broad cross-sector of partners to support Hep C Free Allegheny’s efforts, including county and city government, media, business and faith leaders, and other stakeholders 

Adagio Health

Allegheny County Medical Society


Allegheny Health Network, Center for Inclusion Health


Allegheny County Health Department

Allies for Health + Wellbeing


ARS Treatment Centers


Coordinated Care Network

Central Outreach

City of Pittsburgh EMS


Community Liver Alliance

Gateway Rehab


Metro Community Health Center

Prevention Point Pittsburgh


UPMC Adolescent & Young Adult Medicine

member organizations

CORE STRATEGY

SURVEILLANCE

TESTING & LINKAGE TO CARE: 

TREATMENT EXPANSION:

EDUCATION, PREVENTION, AND ADVOCACY:

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