Envision Community Services has been awarded a contract with the Chicago Department of Public Health to conduct street outreach and violence interruption services in Brighton Park, launching the Save Our Streets (SOS) program. Envision currently staffs one Street Outreach supervisor and three outreach workers assigned to work with gangs in the Brighton Park community, conducting street outreach on a day-to-day basis, as well as working “on-call” to respond to shootings and incidents of violence within the community, providing mediation and preventing escalation.
Program staff recruits participants through partnerships with the Chicago Police Department, probation and parole officers, social service agencies, Chicago Public Schools, faith-based organizations, and through street canvassing to identify and recruit individuals with active gang involvement, justice-system involvement, individuals with violent online behavior, previous victimization, symptoms of trauma, and those disconnected from school.
Outreach occurs through canvassing on the streets, at funeral homes and hospitals, as well as through social media (often used as a platform for virtual gangbanging Through Save Our Streets, ECS will promote peace within our communities, in addition to raising awareness on gang culture and gang life.
S.O.S. Save Our Streets
Relevant Community Partnerships
Facilitate partnerships between the street outreach (SO) program and other systems-level partners that influence violence and participant successful outcomes.
Relevant Civic Engagement
Work with CDPH, the Mayor’s Office, and other city leaders to develop a Violence Reduction Strategy.
Training Training Staff Development
Train Hyperlocal Street Outreach (and allied services) staff with the professionalism
Providing Relevant Services
Engage individuals and groups at high risk of violence.