Prevention Point Philadelphia

04/23/2026

A native of South Philadelphia, Caren Seltzer Devine has been volunteering at Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP) every Wednesday for two months.

“As of late, I've just been looking to give back. I follow you guys on social media, and I thought, you know what, let me volunteer. And—here I am!”

Caren’s professional background is in addiction services, and many of her family members have struggled with substance use disorder.

“Prevention Point is in my wheelhouse,” she explains.

But what keeps Caren coming back is the staff, interns, and fellow volunteers who she works alongside in PPP’s basement, assembling HIV and hepatitis C prevention kits for our participants.

“I think they are vibrant and passionate and want to make a difference. They really understand what it takes to help people move from point A to point B, without judgment. Which is phenomenal. Phenomenal!” she remarks. “ I just love them all.”

At the Wednesday Pack n’ Prep volunteer session, it’s clear the feeling is mutual. PPP staff are quick to celebrate Caren’s energetic demeanor, compassionate approach, and lively sense of humor.

“My kids are roughly the same age as a lot of the staffers here,” she observes. “At PPP, it's a different relationship but with a similar age group that I'm having. I like that.”

Caren is learning a lot from the Wednesday crew.

"They're all teaching me. I initially came from the way of thinking that abstinence is the goal. Period. That's it. If you're not willing to abstain, go away. That was 35 years ago.”

Now, Caren believes—as does PPP—that the most effective and compassionate way to offer help to people with substance use disorder is by meeting them where they are in life.

“There's nothing scary about another human being. The folks that are utilizing the services here, there's something in them that wants to be different. They want to be healthier, they don't want to get sick. And PPP's services can get them on their way.”

04/23/2026

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and we're highlighting treatment options & resources for alcohol use disorder (AUD). If you are concerned about your alcohol consumption, you are not alone. About 28 million people in the USA ages 12 and older are living with AUD, and there are over 178,000 alcohol-related deaths in the USA each year. This means that alcohol is one of the leading preventable causes of death in the country.

PPP staff are here to provide resources to participants with AUD to help diminish the effects alcohol has on their lives. We can also connect patients to medication-based treatment if desired. No matter what your relationship to alcohol or other substances is, remember that you are WORTHY of support, connection, and love.

04/22/2026

Womxn's Night is TONIGHT, 5:30-8 p.m. at the PPP main building!

04/20/2026

April is Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Awareness Month! If you test positive for an STI, remember that you are not alone—2.2 million cases of STIs were reported in the USA in 2024. It's important to test regularly if you are sexually active so that you can know your status, seek treatment if needed, stay healthy, and protect others.

Anyone can get HIV and hepatitis C testing at Prevention Point Philadelphia: Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and on Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Patients enrolled in PPP clinics (like our MOUD, PrEP, or Sana Clinics) may receive free general STI testing during those times. If you are not an enrolled patient, our team can connect you to a place where you can receive general STI testing. If you test positive for HIV &/or Hepatitis C, our staff will connect you directly with PPP treatment clinics.

https://ppponline.org/medical-services

04/18/2026

Thanks to Carmen Alverio for our final haiku of the day. Once a participant herself, Carmen has been a valuable part of the PPP team for many years now.

04/17/2026

Thanks to Larry J. Colon—a former participant who recently joined PPP as a PRN shelter support staff—for sharing your haiku today.

04/17/2026

It's National Haiku Poetry Day! We have some true creatives on staff and today we're featuring some of their best 17 syllables.

04/14/2026

PPP Womxn's Night is on for tomorrow, 5:30-8 p.m. The menu will include turkey meatballs, pasta salad, rotel dip, deviled eggs, and a surprise dessert!

As always contact Teena with questions about the program, volunteering, or donations: teena@ppponline.org

04/13/2026

On May 13--one month from today--join us for an afternoon highlighting women’s health services at PPP and organizations across Philadelphia with resources for health, wellness, hygiene, & beauty. Refreshments provided.

Wednesday, May 13, 2026
12-3 p.m.
The Love Lot, 2910 Ruth St. (next to PPP's main building)

Únete a nosotras para una tarde destacando servicios de salud para mujeres en PPP y organizaciones de to'a Filadelfia con recursos para salud, bienestar, higiene y belleza. Se ofrecerán refrigerios.

Miercoles, 13 de mayo, 2026
12-3 p.m.
El Lote del Amor, 2910 Calle Ruth (al lado del edificio principal de PPP)

04/10/2026

April 10 marks National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day. Did you know that about 20% of new HIV diagnoses each year are among young people, ages 13 to 24? Discussing status with potential partners and ensuring young folks have access to prevention education and services are essential in building healthy futures.

Anyone age 18+ can get tested for HIV at Prevention Point, Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. On Fridays, we open at 10 a.m. and services are available until 4 p.m.

Minors under 18 can access HIV testing at: CHOP, St. Christopher's, Planned Parenthood, GALAEI, Action Wellness, Youth Health Empowerment Project, and Philly FIGHT.

You are loved and valued. No matter what your status is, you have options!

04/09/2026

Prevention Point Womxn's Night serves between 80 and 100 people every Wednesday evening thanks to the kindness and generosity of our community partners and volunteers.

Over the next few weeks, we are in need of warm meal donations on April 22, April 29, and May 6. If you're interested in providing a delicious warm meal and the joy, dialogue, and community that food so often encourages, email: teena@ppponline.org

04/08/2026

After surviving substance use & homelessness for 10+ years, Jessica is returning to her childhood dream—studying sharks!

We are really impressed with everything she's accomplished in just three years. It's so affirming and uplifting to see Jessica thriving in her element....................................................................................
Jessica started utilizing PPP’s other services, starting with the hot chocolate offered in winter. Soon, she was also receiving food and clothing from the nonprofit and charging her phone and computer in its drop-in center.

“I was always nervous about asking for stuff,” she says. “I was like, ‘Are you sure this is okay? Do I have to pay? I can give you $1.’ It was weird to use their electricity without giving something in exchange.”

PPP staff members working outside also allowed her to use the bathroom.

“They were really nice to me,” she says. “They made me feel safe.”

Jessica has some training in health care, so she usually took care of her own wounds. This was the early 2020s, when xylazine was rapidly contaminating the illicit drug supply. Soon, Jessica had severe wounds on her arms. In one area, she says, the wound had infected her arm down to the bone. She sought treatment at PPP’s wound care clinic “at least 10 times to get my arm wrapped and cleaned up.”

“I really didn’t care, you know? I was like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna die anyway,’” she says.

A traumatic event changed her perspective. In the spring of 2023, Jessica was forcibly held inside a Kensington home by people she didn’t know. When it became clear she was gravely ill, they tossed her out onto the streets. She was only two blocks from her normal street corner, but she was totally disoriented.

Jessica remembers crawling to the Esperanza Health Center at Kensington and Allegheny Avenues and asking someone to call her mom. Three hours later, her mother and stepfather arrived at the center from New Jersey.

“I was sitting out front, but they didn’t recognize me because I looked so bad,” she says. She was immediately admitted to a hospital and found to have osteomyelitis, endocarditis, cellulitis, and hepatitis C. At one point, doctors considered amputating both of her arms and a leg. They ultimately decided not to, but the scars on her arms are a testament to how badly they’d been infected.

After about 10 days in the hospital, Jessica began the long journey toward reclaiming her life. Sublocade helped her beat back opioids. She started taking community college classes. During the 13 years she’d used addictive substances, the longest time she’d gone without using was 34 days. Read Jessica's story:

Jessica learned about Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP) in 2020 when someone else living on the Kensington streets told her about its HIV prevention services.