Public Health Expands Two Community Programs: Violence Prevention and Access to “Test to Treat”

Public Health Violence Prevention Program Expands Countywide

As a part of National Public Health Week, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced that the Office of Violence Prevention’s or OVP, Trauma Prevention Initiative or TPI, is expanding to five new communities across the County. 

TPI provides a comprehensive, place-based model for violence prevention and intervention that invests in community-driven safety solutions, including peer outreach and local leadership.

The effects of violence on the lives of individuals, families, and communities in the County are physically, socially, and emotionally devastating. They are also unequal, as data on violence-related injuries and deaths makes it clear that people of color and people in communities that have borne the brunt of poverty, divestment, and racism are disproportionately impacted by violence.

TPI was first implemented in South Los Angeles communities in 2016. On July 13th, 2021, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to expand TPI to five new communities across the County and provide additional resources to South LA communities. OVP partners with community members and stakeholders to adapt violence prevention and intervention strategies to the unique needs of each community. 

OVP’s approach to address violence includes the following strategies: 

• Establishing community action for peace networks to build leadership, identify community priorities, and promote peace.
• Street outreach and community violence intervention to respond to violent incidents and promote peace.
• Hospital violence intervention to engage victims of violence in the hospital setting.
• Hiring peer specialists with lived experience to support community engagement and intervention in each region.

TPI also collaborates with partners to support safe community hubs like the DPH wellness communities and school-based wellbeing centers, libraries, and parks and recreation.

Public Health Expands Access to “Test to Treat” Program

Because the efficacy of therapeutics requires rapid access to starting treatment, Public Health is expanding access to therapeutics across L.A. County by launching the Public Health “Test to Treat” Tele-health Services and adding additional “Test to Treat” locations.

Two oral COVID-19 oral therapeutics (Paxlovid and Molnupiravir) are available in LA County which have been found effective against Omicron subvariants BA.1 and BA.2.  These therapeutics are for use in children and adults who weigh at least 88 pounds, test positive for COVID-19, have mild to moderate symptoms, and are at high risk for progressing to severe disease. These two therapeutics must be started within five days of a patient experiencing symptoms.

Residents currently have the option of accessing these medications by going to one of 58 Test to Treat sites in the county, one of the 26 DHS-Fulgent testing sites, or one of three Public Health vaccination sites (Market Street Center in Santa Clarita, Obregon Park in East Los Angeles, and Ted Watkins Memorial Park in South Los Angeles).

The federal government “Test to Treat” program includes 20 CVS minute clinics and 11 Walgreens locations in L.A. County that allow patients to walk in to get tested, evaluated, and treated on the same visit at the same location. States and local jurisdictions have also been identifying other clinical sites that can offer similar services.

Residents can find current “Test to Treat” locations in LA County at: ph.lacounty.gov/covidmedicines.

Beginning this week, residents having difficulty accessing medications or a “Test to Treat” location have several additional options.

Individuals can contact the Public Health call center seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 833-540-0473.