Street Outreach Safe Ride Specialist

Description

The Safe Ride Specialists for Crisis Intervention Pilot is being launched through CTA’s (Chicago Transit Authority) Innovation Studio to test and refine various non-law enforcement, trauma-informed responses that seek to enhance safety for all riders and CTA personnel while promoting dignity and support. Housing Forward is partnering with CTA and other community partners to launch a pilot. project

The Safe Ride Specialists will engage riders and individuals in need on CTA rail cars, at CTA rail stations, and in locations directly surrounding CTA rail stations (e.g. bus turnarounds or bus stops) and provide proactive outreach, crisis intervention, de-escalation, service referrals, and warm hand-offs. Safe Ride Specialist will perform this work in coordination with CTA administrative resources, frontline staff and security personnel, including contractors, as well as third-party organizations (e.g. Chicago Police Department, etc.).

Housing Forward and its partners will provide services on the Green Line trains between the Central and Harlem stations.

Outreach

• Ride the CTA Green Line between Harlem Station and Central Station in the evenings between 5:00pm and 1:00am working in dyads with other project partners to engage riders and provide assistance on the trains and in locations directly surrounding the CTA rail stations.
• Maintain office hours to prepare for outreach on the train, complete administrative tasks including data entry and documentation, follow up with internal and external partners.
• Establish rapport and reduce harm by providing critical resources such as food, water, clothing, blankets, and other necessities.
• Determine the person’s immediate safety needs and provide assistance
• Provide crisis intervention, and other skills and strategies as needed for engagement using a trauma informed approach.
• Perform assessments and offer connection to shelter services. Provide a warm hand to shelter staff and/or provide ongoing case management services to address underlying needs. Ensure connection with CE dedicated assessors to assess ongoing housing needs.
• When indicated, provide assistance to get the rider to medical centers, behavioral health hospitals or other appropriate institutions.
• Contact appropriate CTA personnel in emergency and when indicated by the agreement with the CTA.
• Distribute informational materials to community stakeholders
• Work as a team with the other Safe Ride Specialist from other partner agencies.

Service and Housing Coordination Responsibilities:

• Make immediate connections to emergency shelters or temporary housing to provide safe options while individuals and families are on a pathway toward stability.
• Perform warm handoffs to shelter, housing, and service providers including accompanying riders to medical centers and/or other facilities.

Partnership Relationships:

• Work with the staff of Loyola Street Medicine, Live4
  
  Lali, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Thrive Counseling Center.
• Communicate and cooperate with staff from other Housing Forward programs as needed to ensure seamless delivery of service to clients.
• Attend mandatory weekly meetings with the CTA and other agencies involved in the Safe Ride Programs.
• Establish working relationships with community stakeholders - law enforcement, libraries, first responders, hospitals, health and behavioral providers, townships, homeless education liaisons, faith-based organizations, and other community-based providers.
• Attend and represent the agency at Street Outreach Coalition and other partnership meetings as assigned.

Documentation and Trainings:

• Log activities and time as required by the agency and its funders.
• Attend team and agency meetings.
• Complete required training including CTA mandated training
• Collect and maintain required program documentation and datainput into HMIS and Salesforce systems and agency SharePoint site.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Requirements

Education:

BA, B.S. Advanced degree or credential or certification in Social Work, Family Services, Human Services, Counseling or in related field; with a minimum of one year experience. Individuals with lived experience and two years’…