Zion Shekinah

Zion Shekinah began working with the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) in 2014 where she assisted in providing mental health services at the 24-hour Crisis Center.  By joining the Bloomberg Fellows Program, Zion’s work will transition to working with the Medication-Assisted Treatment Team (MAT) where she will focus on the administration of prescribed Suboxone and Narcan, and patient education on overdose prevention and deaths related to substance use. In addition, Zion will refer clients to immediate detoxification and other substance use treatment services and facilities, as well as coordinating specialty care for patients with drug use disorders who may be impacted with health issues. Zion will also work with the agency's harm reduction programs on reducing drug related deaths among low income and homeless populations.

The Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) was founded with the intentions of providing emergency shelter for people living in a state of chronic homelessness and who, due to their severe and persistent mental illnesses and substance use disorders, did not have access to appropriate and very scarce (if any) services. at the time. DESC clients live with severe and often untreated mental illness, substance use disorders, and a host of other physical and developmental disabilities that have caused or contributed to their chronic homelessness. By addressing each client’s unique needs through a structured and comprehensive recovery plan, staff are able to help clients stabilize and reclaim their lives. Engagement in highly effective, state-licensed mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs contribute to each client’s success in housing.