The meeting agenda included a policy update & call to action, a presentation highlighting data from the *new* 2023 SFDPH HIV Epidemiology Report, and a discussion between Dr. Tyler TerMeer (SFAF), Dr. Elizabeth Imbert (UCSF/SFGH) and Dr. Hillary Kunins, Director of Behavioral Health Services and Mental Health SF, on San Francisco’s vision for the delivery of mental health services.

Laura Thomas, SFAF’s Senior Director of HIV & Harm Reduction Policy, shared an update on the drug overdose death crisis in San Francisco and outlined ways we can take action – 

• Help defeat misguided ballot initiative on March 2024 ballot to take away CAAP general assistance funding
• Push for more funding for behavioral health services and staff
• Stand up for people who use drugs

Sharon Pipkin, SFDPH Epidemiologist, highlighted data from the newly released 2022 Annual HIV Epidemiology Report.

In summary,

• Rate of decline in new HIV diagnoses has stalled, infections are plateauing
• High level of rapid linkage to care and viral suppression but disparities remain
• Concerning trends in HIV:
  • Increase in diagnoses among Latinx people, particularly MSM
  • Lack of decline in annual diagnoses in transwomen
  • High proportion of new diagnoses in PEH
  • Increase in accidental drug overdose deaths

And special thanks to Drs. Hillary Kunins, Tyler TerMeer and Liz Imbert for a thoughtful and engaging conversation on mental and behavioral health in San Francisco.

All the speakers have given us important directions for Getting to Zero SF, and we’re looking forward to collectively tackling these issues in the new year.

The meeting slides are here.