Conducting Outreach 

Individuals with OUD and other SUDs experiencing homelessness or housing instability and at risk of overdose, medical complications, and incarceration are the priority population for CORS. Locating individuals in need often requires outreach in the community and in coordination with other organizations.  

The CORS team at Western Chicago’s Serenity House considers their connection with DuPage Probation and Court Services a remarkable achievement. Members of the CORS team help individuals on parole navigate early recovery challenges by connecting them with resources, taking them to meetings, and providing coaching support services. 

Less formally, the CORS team at Rosecrance, Inc., in Rockford, serves lunch at the Veterans Drop-in Center one day each month, with each member of the team cooking or buying a food item. Typically, 12-15 veterans are served. After lunch, the CORS team engages with any veteran seeking SUD or housing resources. These and other outreach activities are paying off, with warm handoffs to inpatient care at a substance use treatment facility regularly occurring.