Project Safe Point

A faith-based organization delivering a mobile syringe service program across 12 counties in upstate New York

Project Safe Point is a community-based organization operated by the Catholic Charities Care Coordination Services that provides harm reduction services via mobile van to 12 counties around Albany in upstate New York. Though controversial in faith communities, Project Safe Point believes that it is their faith mission to serve those that are poor and vulnerable.

In addition to reducing infection rates and decreasing contaminated paraphernalia circulating among injection drug users, syringe service programs offer health care workers an opportunity to engage people who inject drugs in counseling for health, HIV and Hepatitis C prevention, and treatment referral. There may also be less stigma attached to health services provided through active outreach, especially when delivered through a faith-based organization in a non-judgmental way. 

Services provided by the mobile van include:

  • Syringe service program
  • Screening for HIV and Hepatitis C
  • Linkage to treatment 
  • Collaboration with Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) for community-based, pre-arrest diversion
  • Naloxone distribution and overdose education
  • Access to peer navigators

More information on the program can be found in the news article here and the video here

Stigma can be reduced using mobile active outreach delivered by a non-judgmental faith-based organization. 

Continuum of Care
Harm Reduction
Type of Evidence
Implemented
Response Approach
Comprehensive services
Educational
Overdose prevention
Syringe service program / Needle exchange
Peer-reviewed Article

Evidence of Program Effectiveness

This program has not been formally evaluated, although it has been highlighted in Health Progress, the official journal of the Catholic Health Association of the United States. 

Participants of Project Safe Point have been involved in a research study on barriers to healthcare for people who inject drugs.