SPRINGFIELD — Tapestry, an organization chosen by the state to operate a needle exchange program in Springfield, announced this week that the facility will be located at the Northgate Plaza on Main Street in a ground-floor commercial storefront.
The program, known as Syringe Access Services, is expected to open in early January, said Liz Whynott, Tapestry’s director of HIV health and prevention. Tapestry earlier had been hoping to open by Dec. 1, but needed to finalize the location and prepare it for the program, she said.
The rented office is between H&R Block and Northgate Dental within the plaza at 1985 Main St. in the North End.
"We're looking forward to providing this vital service which has been shown to drastically decrease HIV and Hepatitis C, as well as connecting people to further substance abuse treatment," Whynott said.
Tapestry will use some of its current staff, and is interviewing and hiring additional staff for the Springfield program, said Whynott, who will serve as the program director.
The state Department of Public Health announced the selection of Tapestry in October.
Tapestry, a regional health services organization, also operates syringe access programs in Northampton, Holyoke, Greenfield and North Adams.
It has two other health services programs in storefronts at the Northgage Plaza — Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Family Nutrition, and the Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinic.
The opening of a syringe access program in Springfield was authorized earlier this year by city Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen R. Caulton-Harris — 20 years after a needle exchange pilot program was rejected by the City Council after significant controversy and debate.
The syringe access program includes: syringe distribution, collection and disposal; HIV/hepatitis C/sexually transmitted infections testing; overdose education and naloxone distribution; substance use risk screening and referral to treatment; and mental health assessment and linkage to counseling and treatment, said Ann Scales, state Department of Public Health spokeswoman.
The program is state-funded, estimated at $600,000.
Whynott said it will be beneficial having three Tapestry programs in the same plaza, aiding with the coordination of services to the public.
"It will help us provide a seamless referral to the person, access to further health care," Whynott said. "It's one of the many examples of how we are taking action to fill the gap to provide needed care for people."
The state lists the New North Citizens Council as a program subcontractor, and there is an agreement with Baystate Medical Center to provide in-kind services, officials said.