A Letter To Our North Chicago/Waukegan Participants & Partners

September 17, 2020

Dear North Chicago/Waukegan Participants and Community Partners:

We are sorry to inform you that we will not be providing services to your area today and will be temporarily suspending mobile outreach services for the time being. We have encountered opposition to the harm reduction services being provided since March and we are pausing the program until we have exhausted all avenues to involve the appropriate individuals and groups in discussions and decisions about the program, including but not limited to elected officials, public safety groups, community members, community-based organizations, partner organizations, participants, and others. We are working with our partners, the Northern Illinois Recovery Community Organization (NIRCO), based in Waukegan, to host a community listening session to provide information about the services we bring to the community and to learn about the community’s needs and experiences directly from residents.

The resources we bring to the community include fresh fruit, snacks, water, toiletries, and personal care items, socks, underwear, naloxone training (opioid overdose reversal drug), safe and sterile use supplies, and most importantly, compassionate and non-judgmental connection to resources and services. Program staff and volunteers provide peer support and care linkage, including physically driving people to treatment or recovery resources and maintaining contact with them throughout their journey. To date, 6 participants from your community have been transported to treatment and multiple overdose reversals have been reported by participants. You can learn more about Live4Lali’s harm reduction services and outreach program at Live4lali.org/harmreduction

We are also looking within the community to fill our Outreach Coordinator positions. Please visit Live4Lali.org/Careers for information and to apply. Together we can build a stronger community, and show care and compassion for people who use substances. 

Without a heartbeat, people cannot recover. It is our intention, and hope, that we can return to the area stronger and with even more resources to better serve you. Until then, if you need supplies or resources, feel free to call or text our dedicated Harm Reduction phone at 224-297-4393. We can deliver or mail out supplies directly to you.

If you need support or access to treatment and recovery services, call our CARE line at 844-584-5254, extension 812. This service is a combined effort of the Village of Arlington Heights, Brightside Clinic, Omni Youth Services, and Live4Lali, and is managed 24/7 to anyone who needs it inside or outside of Arlington Heights. You are also welcome to join one of our virtual peer support meetings, held multiple times per week, or make an appointment with a recovery advocate who can provide virtual one-on-one and family support. If you have trouble accessing a phone or computer to attend, please let us know and we will make the appropriate accommodations. 

Live4Lali’s utmost intention is to meet people where they are at. This philosophy is not only the core of harm reduction, but it is what every single person in this world is in search of – being seen, heard, understood, and respected. We will continue to work to ensure that this philosophy is being promoted at all levels of engagement, and we will continue to listen and learn. 

In solidarity,

Laura Fry 
Executive Director, Live4Lali
844-584-5254 x803
[email protected]

Stacy Harding

Founder

Inspiration Outreach Foundation

[email protected]

Categorised in: Live4Lali Updates

This post was written by live4lali