(WBBM Newsradio) —The Cook County's Sheriff's Office is now referring members of the general public to services ranging from housing to substance abuse to mental health help.
Sheriff Tom Dart said his office has been providing those types of services to former detainees and their families, for the past year.
"We already are in a place where we've been doing this. It's just expanding the universe," he said.
The Community Resource Center is a one-stop-shop that has been available only by phone because of the pandemic. In coming weeks, it will be open for in-person help, Dart said.
"The old days, you just let people sort of try and figure it out themselves. Well, it doesn't work that way," he said.
The expanded service won't increase his department's spending, Dart said. His administration repurposed positions to support the program, which is meant to reduce the jail's recidivism rate.
Currently, the department has a caseload of than 1,000 people using the service.
Dart said he's working on a permanent site for people to visit for in-person help. He is leery about using a spot too near the jail, saying, "That's not what I want people feeling when they walk into the place."
If you'd like to take advantage of the Community Resource Center, call 773-405-5116 or email ccso.resourcecenter@ccsheriff.org.
You can also find an online submission form at www.cookcountysheriff.org.
