Senate Resolution No. 5461

BY: Senator BRESLIN

HONORING Keith Brown upon the occasion of his
designation for special recognition by Catholic
Charities Care Coordination Services on June 7, 2018

WHEREAS, The unity of our State and Nation is built upon the
compassion of individuals such as Keith Brown who uphold the values of
community life and who, through their great actions, epitomize the best
of humanity; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Keith Brown
upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by Catholic
Charities Care Coordination Services, to be celebrated at its 2nd Annual
Garden Party on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at the Walter Street Garden,
Albany, New York; and

WHEREAS, Director of Health and Harm Reduction for the Katal Center
for Health, Equity and Justice, Keith Brown is being recognized for his
innovation and commitment to the mission of Catholic Charities Care
Coordination Services; and

WHEREAS, Keith Brown began his illustrious career with the Katal
Center for Health, Equity and Justice in May of 2016 as Project Director
of the Albany Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) initiative in
Albany, New York; and

WHEREAS, In this capacity, Keith Brown serves as an expert in
Medicaid, health, case management, and harm reduction, assisting
municipalities through the country in developing strategies addressing
public health and public safety; and

WHEREAS, Keith Brown has more than 15 years of experience working to
improve the lives of people living with HIV, people who use drugs, and
people at-risk, in both Western New York and the Capital Region; and

WHEREAS, An expert in opioid use, addiction, and overdose
prevention, Keith Brown has advised lawmakers, law enforcement,
community groups and healthcare providers in effective methods to
address the overdose crisis; and

WHEREAS, Prior to joining Katal, Keith Brown worked for 13 years at
the Albany-based Catholic Charities Care Coordination Services, serving
eight of those years as Executive Director; and

WHEREAS, Under the able leadership of Keith Brown, the multi-faceted
agency provided direct services to individuals impacted by HIV and other
chronic illnesses, and prevention services for communities and
individuals at-risk for HIV, Hepatitis C, and other conditions; and

WHEREAS, In 2010, this extraordinary man developed and implemented
the first Syringe Exchange Program in New York's Capital Region to
respond to the needs of people who use drugs in the community; and

WHEREAS, That program, Project Safe Point, has since grown to
include other services such as opiate overdose prevention, harm
reduction counseling and referral, and HIV/Hepatitis C screening; and

WHEREAS, On the leading edge of Medicaid redesign, Keith Brown has
been intricately involved in New York State's Health Homes and Delivery
System Reform Incentive Payment Program (DSRIP), serving previously as a
project co-Chair and member of several executive committees; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, Keith Brown worked with the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and New York State Department of Health to
develop a research study on Hepatitis C risk behaviors among injection
drug users; and

WHEREAS, Three years later, Keith Brown and a small group of
partners were invited to participate in a White House sponsored
convening of stakeholders and professionals to discuss Law Enforcement
Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Programs as a means to reform the criminal
justice system; and

WHEREAS, Today, Keith Brown remains committed to fighting for access
to treatment and services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS,
Hepatitis C and other chronic illnesses, people who use drugs, people
engaged in sex work, and other marginalized populations; and

WHEREAS, Keith Brown's expertise and technical assistance in chronic
disease management and harm reduction has been sought by various groups
and organizations wishing to implement or develop similar services; and

WHEREAS, A true asset to society, Keith Brown is a member of Albany
County's Opioid Task Force and sits on the Board of the Albany County
Coalition on Homelessness; and

WHEREAS, Keith Brown holds a Master's degree in Public Health from
SUNY Albany and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Community Mental Health
from SUNY Buffalo; he is also a member of the Alpha Gamma Chapter of the
Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Keith Brown upon the occasion of his designation for special
recognition by Catholic Charities Care Coordination Services on June 7,
2018; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Keith Brown.