Community Engagement Team
The Community Engagement program aims to reduce the barriers people who use drugs often face trying to access services. The program does this by collaborating with community-based organizations and other city agencies and through community interviews and qualitative data collection. There remain large pockets of the city where individuals who use drugs have few pathways into care. The Community Engagement team works with people in these neighborhoods to gather information on what barriers to care they face and how the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction can help them eliminate those barriers. Collaborators with SUPHR’s Community Engagement program also help to expedite entry into treatment facilities and provide case management for Philadelphians returning from incarceration who are at elevated risk of overdose.
In 2021, the highest unintentional overdose fatalities in the City were amongst Black Philadelphians. Fatalities were also concentrated in North Philadelphia zip codes with primarily Black residents: 19132, 19133, 19140, 19141 and 19140. The Community Engagement Program aims to reach these neighborhoods to collect information and provide resources to people who use drugs in culturally relevant and appropriate ways.
Earlier this year, the program’s first Community Assessment and Engagement Specialist, Dominique McQuade, began an outreach engagement strategy in the North Philadelphia community. She has built trusted relationships by becoming a consistent source of support, harm reduction supplies, and substance use information. Her presence in the community allows SUPHR to expand programming to specifically include populations at the highest risk.
A day at work with Community Engagement
Other Collaborations
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AR-2 launched as a pilot program in April 2019 after receiving federal grants from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The unit, composed of a paramedic and case manager, works in Kensington and responds to nonfatal overdoses when an individual refuses transport to an emergency department. They also accept “walk-ins” and community referrals. The team connects people to treatment on demand and provides a warm handoff to treatment facilities. They also distribute the medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, naloxone, citywide.
Read more about the AR-2 program.
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LEAP (Linkage and Engagement After Prison) is a partnership with Action Wellness. For the past 30 years, Action Wellness has been working with individuals incarcerated in Philadelphia jails. In 2020, SUPHR funded Action Wellness to provide case management for those at high risk of overdose upon release from incarceration.
LEAP is a voluntary program for anyone inducted on suboxone, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder, in the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. Case managers visit their clients behind the walls and continue providing services for 3-6 months post-incarceration. Upon release, each client is assigned a care outreach specialist who accompanies them on medical appointments, shopping trips, court dates, and other errands as needed. Abstention from substance use is not a pre-requisite for participation in the LEAP program.
Meet the team
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Annie Brogan, MPA
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
Annie (she/her) received her master’s degree in Public Administration from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, where she focused on public health programming. She joined SUPHR in 2019. Her interests include addressing the harms of the war on drugs and the intersections of race, class, and drug use. Before becoming a public health professional, Annie was a history of medicine librarian, which influences the way she approaches her current work as she looks at evidence from the past that has led us to the current overdose crisis.
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Dominique McQuade
COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT AND ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
Dominique (she/her) is the SUPHR Community Assessment and Engagement Specialist. She began her role with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) in March of 2022, but has been working to provide harm reduction resources and education to low-income Black and brown communities since she moved to Philadelphia in early 2020. In addition, Dominique’s role now includes qualitative research and assessment. She works very hard to foster community relationships and create opportunities within populations most afflicted by the increasing overdose crisis.
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Wilfredo Laboy
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Wilfredo Laboy has over 25 years of experience working closely with communities to bring people together and make things better. He focuses on building strong connections between organizations and the people they serve, always looking for ways to support and uplift communities. Wilfredo is skilled in creating plans that get people involved, encourage open conversations, and lead to real, positive changes. His work is all about helping people understand each other and find solutions that work for everyone. Wilfredo believes in the power of listening, teamwork, and taking action to make a lasting impact. He is dedicated to supporting communities in reaching their goals and making sure their voices are heard.
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Wendy Brown
STREET TEAM SPECIALIST
Wendy Brown is a dedicated Community Engagement Street Team Specialist Lead with the PDPH SUPHR Division. With over a year of experience in this role, Wendy's passion for helping individuals struggling with substance use disorder is deeply rooted in her personal experiences with others with SUD. Her previous employment at ShopRite for 17 years has honed her ability to work compassionately and empathetically with people from all walks of life.
Today, Wendy plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the community, leveraging her understanding and experience to make a positive impact on the lives of those in need.
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Aramis Rivera
STREET TEAM SPECIALIST
Aramis Rivera is a bilingual community-focused professional with a passion for public health and service. He joined the Philadelphia Department of Public Health in September 2024 as a Community Engagement Street Team Specialist.
Prior to his current role, Aramis gained valuable experience in various sectors, honing his skills in customer service and problem-solving. Additionally, he served as a Spanish and English interpreter at the Philadelphia Health Center #6, facilitating communication and understanding between healthcare providers and patients.
Aramis is deeply committed to giving back to his community. He has volunteered at numerous organizations, participating in food drives and contributing to local initiatives. His volunteer work with the Engagement Team at SUPHR gave him the opportunity to now work with the team. His involvement in Philly’s Mural arts program and B2B program at SUPHR further demonstrate his dedication to community development and cultural enrichment.
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Darryl Stanton
STREET TEAM SPECIALIST
Darryl Staton is a new member of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health's SUPHR Division. Prior to joining the department, Darryl has held various roles including licensed massage therapist, forklift operator, and hospital security guard. He is also passionate about community service and has volunteered his time to feed the unhoused and mentor RCT school students.
Darryl is committed to improving public health outcomes and making a positive impact on the community.
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Maynard Merriman
STREET TEAM SPECIALIST
Maynard Merriman is a compassionate passionate Community Engagement Specialist at SUPHR, where he has been working since August 2023. His passion for mentoring others aligns seamlessly with his current role, making him an asset in supporting individuals with substance use disorder. Beyond his work at SUPHR, Maynard is also actively involved in reentry services for the North Philly Project. This commitment to assisting individuals reintegrating into society further demonstrates his dedication to making a positive impact on his community.