Chicago Initiates Street Psychiatry Teams to Address Homeless Mental Health Needs

Unlike traditional emergency response teams, the street psychiatry teams will not be accompanying police or first responders. Instead, they will focus on a preventative model, establishing long-term connections with individuals to help prevent them from entering the system.

The announcement was made at the South Shore Cultural Center, where public health officials highlighted this innovative approach to behavioral health, which is relatively rare in the United States. Few cities, such as Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, have implemented similar models.

Ryann Billitteri, project manager at the Chicago Department of Public Health, noted the positive changes experienced by individuals involved in similar programs, stating, "They're able to engage in those conversations, move into housing. Some of them have gotten employment. So, it really changed their lives."

The city considered its unique weather and landscape when establishing the two teams that will operate throughout Chicago, targeting those facing homelessness and complex behavioral health challenges. Each team consists of a psychiatrist, a medical doctor, a certified alcohol and drug counselor, a peer support worker, and a licensed clinical social worker.

Goldie Rodriguez, a peer recovery support specialist, shared her personal success story, stating, "I understood I was going through someone who could meet me where I was, show me that change was possible. Today, I've been clean for 17 years."

While the official launch took place on Wednesday, team members began their community outreach about a month prior, and they are now fully staffed. Billitteri highlighted that a key metric for success will be the reduction in costs associated with these individuals to the public system, ultimately saving taxpayer money.