1. Oak Park Public Library (IL): Serving Vulnerable Patrons
Director of Social Services and Safety
Rob Simmons
Contact: (p) or

2. Oak Park’s Unique Geographic Location

3. How do you know that someone is experiencing homelessness?

4. Types of homelessness:
1. Chronic:
Individuals that are experiencing homelessness for at least a year, or repeatedly, while struggling with a disabling condition such as serious mental illness, substance use disorder, or physical disability.
2. Episodic:
Individuals, often with disabling conditions, who are currently homeless and have experienced three or more episodes of homelessness in the past year.
3. Doubling-Up:
Individuals that are unable to maintain their housing situation and are forced to stay with a series of friends and/or extended family members.
*National Alliance to End Homelessness definitions

5. Types of social-service advocacy and support at all three branches:
Homelessness
Mental illness
Health care
Immigration
Veteran’s support
Financial assistance
Unemployment/underemployment
Affordable housing (imminent danger of becoming homeless)
Youth services
Senior services

6. Data since March 2016:
67%-311 of 464 patrons served are Oak Park residents
(This stat doesn’t include “passive” engagement with patrons).
Majority of the cases that we encounter involves Oak Park residents experiencing mental illness, poverty, or that are in imminent danger of becoming homeless (earning: $12,000- $15,000/year).
65% service to individual adults/families with no children.
35% service to families with children.

7. Social Services and Safety Program Design
VULNERABLE
PATRON
Outreach Program
(Referral- based)
Safety and Security Monitors
Training
Strategic Partnerships

8. Program Design Outreach Program (Referral-based)
Director of Social Services and Safety and Social Service Specialist provide outreach to patrons at all 3 branches (Not direct-service).
Social Services Specialist also provides youth development support via mentoring/coaching program called Leading Edge.
Trained in Trauma-Informed Care and Mental Health First-Aid.
Works closely with patrons and staff to provide continuum of care.
Works closely with community partners to link patrons to resources and support.

9. Program Design Safety and Security
Security Monitors were hired in-house in June 2016; Supervisor hired in November 2017.
Provides safety and security support via roving and outreach.
Works closely with staff and patrons to provide continuum of care.
Trained in Trauma-Informed Care and Mental Health First-Aid.

10. Program Design

11. Confidentiality

12. A trauma-informed program, organization, or system:
Program Design
Training
A trauma-informed program, organization, or system:
The Four R’s
Realizes widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths of recovery.
Recognizes signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system.
Responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices.
Resists re-traumatization.

13. 6 Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Care:
Program Design
Training
6 Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Care:
Safety
Trustworthiness and Transparency
Peer Support
Collaboration and Mutuality
Empowerment, Voice, and Choice
Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues
*Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has curriculum-based resources and support on Trauma-Informed Care.

14. Mental Health First-Aid Action Plan
Program Design
Training
Mental Health First-Aid Action Plan
Assess for risk of suicide and harm
Listen non-judgmentally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage appropriate professional help
Encourage self-help and other support strategies
*Mental-health First-Aid is a national best-practice training model offered by social-service organizations and mental-health professionals throughout the country.

15. Strategic Partnerships/Collaborative Efforts
Program Design
Strategic Partnerships/Collaborative Efforts
Community-based social service agencies
Housing Forward provides street outreach on-site(Shelter support off-site).
New Moms provides outreach and support on-site to families (ages 0-5).
Oak Park Housing Coalition (Meets quarterly).
Collaboration for Early Childhood provides youth development services.
Educational institutions
Oak Park school Districts 97 and 200.
The Equity Team (cohort of local educators).
Triton Community College (Institute of Museum and Library Services-IMLS grant: Activating Community Opportunities Using Museum and Library Assets).
University of Illinois at Chicago’s nursing program partnered with Oak Park Public Library to provide prevention and free rehabilitation support to patrons.
Local government entities
Oak Park Police Department (safety and training).
Oak Park Township (Youth Services, Senior Services, and General Assistance).

16. What we are measuring:
Are we meeting the library’s strategic goals of: Engagement, Learning, and Stewardship?
Quantitative data
Qualitative data via the Program Logic Model:
1. What changes in knowledge, skills, and/or attitudes is expected from the
program.
2. What changes in behavior or actions is expected from the program?
3. What changes in status or condition do we expect from the program?

17. Training Resources:
Ryan Dowd: A Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness (YouTube).
California Library Services: Welcome to the Mental Health Initiative Video
Series (YouTube).
Mental Health First Aid (Offered by mental health service providers).
4. Trauma-Informed Care (Offered by mental health service providers).