Building Partnerships 

The power of collaboration is one of the most important lessons Hour House, a CORS subrecipient based in Charleston, has learned so far. “The challenges are too multifaceted for any single agency to tackle alone,” Hour House staff note. “By working closely with other service providers, community organizations, and law enforcement, we have been able to offer more coordinated, wraparound support tailored to each person’s needs. These partnerships allow us to bridge service gaps and ensure that vulnerable community members are not only connected to the appropriate resources but also treated with dignity and care.” Hour House has developed effective working relationships with several local law enforcement agencies, including the Mattoon Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Edgar County Sheriff’s Department. 

Subrecipients have been similarly innovative in their partnering. Nicasa Behavioral Health Services, in Round Lake, collaborates with local food pantries to facilitate distribution of Narcan and testing supplies. The Boone County Health Department, located in Belvidere, partners with a local church to hold, free of charge, monthly recovery skills session groups on healthy coping, grief in recovery, vision boards, and mindfulness walks. Gateway Foundation of St. Clair County is creating partnerships with local hospitals and emergency departments.