Prevention Point Philadelphia

Today we're re-sharing Jessica's story with an update she sent on May 20:

"Today, I got confirmation that my IACUC proposal (it's a group that authorizes the proper care and handling of vertebrate animals in research) was approved without any revisions, so I can start my own research project this summer!"

Jessica will be studying internal parasites in fish, part of her work researching the ocean and protecting its creatures for generations to come. Congratulations Jess--can't wait to read your paper!

Jessica’s Story: After a decade of struggle, she’s returning to her childhood dream—studying sharks | Prevention Point Jessica learned about Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP) in 2020 when someone else living on the Kensington streets told her about its HIV prevention services.

Check out Prevention Point Philadelphia's new resources page! It includes resources and publications about infectious disease prevention, wound care, overall health, overdose response, and more—all of it researched and created by PPP staff.

Current resources available for download include:

-PPP Services for the Community
-Help For People Using Uppers (Stimulants)
-Overdose Response Flow Chart (English and Spanish)
-Xylazine-associated Wounds: Clinical Experience From a Low-barrier Wound Care Clinic in Philadelphia
-Implementation of Injectable Cabotegravir/Rilpivirine for Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Patients With Substance Use Disorders...
-2025–2026 Services Brochure
-FY2024-2025 PPP By the Numbers One-Pager

We will update this page as more resources are created, so stay tuned!

Resources | Prevention Point Below are resources and publications about health, infectious disease prevention, wound care, and overdose response researched and created by Prevention Point Philadelphia staff, in collaboration with our participants. PPP Services for the Community

“Our patients’ goals are their own.”

That principle is repeated often among nurses at PPP, where clinical care is shaped through trust, consistency, and long-term relationships with patients. Rachel Neuschatz, full-time RN at PPP’s Kensington Avenue location, describes how “wound care was often a way that people felt able to transition from using nonclinical services—or nothing at all—to connect to other clinical services like STI and HIV testing, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), PrEP, HIV care, and many other things.” That trajectory reflects PPP nurses’ approach to care—one built through respect and thoughtful coordination with other services as they become relevant to the patient.

PPP nursing care began in 2017 through our nurse-led wound care clinic, initially a mobile program serving mostly people using substances and/or experiencing homelessness. The clinic was established years before xylazine and other tranquilizers became widespread in Philadelphia’s street drug supply, and before drug-related wounds became the subject of intense media coverage. By the time public attention turned toward “tranq wounds,” PPP’s nurses had already spent years providing wound care in the community. Read more about nursing care at PPP:

Honoring Nursing Care at PPP | Prevention Point “Our patients’ goals are their own.”

PPP’s newsletter, To The Point, just went out today! We’re proud to feature nursing care at PPP this month.

A note from NPs Kristi Petrillo Straub & Sharon Cave-Adens:

Did you know that PPP has an amazing team of five nurse practitioners (NPs) and 10 registered nurses (RNs) across two sites? PPP nurses provide relationship-driven care that meets patients where they are & responds to their self-determined goals.

Nursing services are concentrated at our main building on Kensington Ave and at Philly Home at Girard in North Philadelphia. At both locations, nurses provide wound care; STI testing & treatment; HIV prevention services including PrEP, hepatitis C care, medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) injections; & day-to-day clinical support.

What makes this care distinct is not just what our nurses do, but how they do it. PPP nurses practice person-centered, low-barrier care that prioritizes autonomy, trust, & relationship-building. Patients define their own goals, and nurses work alongside them to support those goals—without requiring them to meet rigid expectations first.

In practice, this can look different from a traditional clinical visit. A person might come to the wound care clinic but request something else first—clean clothes, hygiene supplies, or time to talk through what they’re experiencing. These interactions build trust, and that trust often opens the door to deeper engagement both with the nursing team and PPP’s broader spectrum of services.

Read more about nursing care at PPP:

To The Point: May 2026 Did you know that Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP) has an amazing team of five nurse practitioners (NPs) and 10 registered nurses (RNs) across two sites? PPP nurses provide relationship-driven care that meets patients where they are and responds to their self-determined goals.