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JANUARY 27, 2023 AGENCY SPOTLIGHT Supportive Connections now open for referrals in Washtenaw County LA SHAWN CARLISLE Groundcover contributor Hi everyone. I'd like to present Supportive Connections, an Ann Arbor City criminal deflection service. I interviewed Karen Field, the program director, to get to know the program better in order to share with Groundcover readers. LC: When was Supportive Connections founded? KF: Supportive Connections started when I was hired as the program director in July 2022. We opened for referrals on November 2, 2022. LC: As the program director, what are your goals and/or plans for Supportive Connections? KF: The mission of Supportive Connections is to assist individuals who are in crisis or need of social service supports and at risk of becoming involved or re-involved with the criminal justice system. Our primary focuses are substance abuse and mental health. Our program is not directly connected to the court or law enforcement, so we rely on the community for referrals. Anyone can refer to our program. A person can even call to ask for services themselves. Once a person is referred to Supportive Connections, we reach out to the referred person. Participation with Supportive Connections is voluntary. If someone wants to participate, we look at the individual's needs and concerns. Our case manager, Johnathan Laye, works within existing community resources as much as possible. We also have some funding to support our mission, which can pay for things such as substance abuse treatment and mental health services. We have many people in our community doing great work. I am not looking at stepping on anyone's toes or reinventing the wheel. If a referred person is already working with or receiving services from a community agency, we will reach out to that agency or worker to see if there is any assistance that we can provide. We are hoping we can help fill any gaps and coordinate assistance. As much as possible, we want to help where needed and not duplicate or undermine other efforts. I believe there are enough people in need in our community for all programs to coexist and work together. LC: With this being said, I'd like to note that in my mind it is a wonderful idea to have supports in place. Yet, fundamentally, it is a much greater provision to implement community access resources that aid and/or assist in preventative programs that are able to detect and look at how to avoid further injury to people in crises. A format where we can be taught what to avoid in some cases. To allow questions to be asked by the consumers, then have some tenured advocates or recipients that are successful in the utilization of specific programs and services to answer them. Another key part of offering services is to address the need for transportation to access these supports and/or services. Many people give up or are discouraged due to limited or the lack of safe and adequate means to access and receive services that are and may become available. Yes, the limitations that exist in order to access these benefits and services that aid in support from community programs can make some people give up, while others are even more frustrated because of the gap that does not bridge access for provisions to be made. What are you doing to make people aware of the program? KF: Community outreach is, and will continue to be, vital to our program. We have contacted a number of community agencies and community leaders. We have made presentations to over two dozen organizations and groups. We are continuing to reach out to community agencies and respond to all inquiries about our program. LC: Where is the office located? KF: Our office is currently located at the Justice Center, 305 E. Huron Ann Arbor, Mich. If someone is not comfortable coming into the Justice Center Building, we will make efforts to meet them at another community location. LC: How many agencies are aware of the Supportive Connections program? KF: We have reached out to over 50 community agencies, organizations, and groups by email and inperson. I also think word of mouth is working as we have received referrals from agencies with whom we have not yet met. LC: Is there any data that you are using to design the Supportive Connections program? KF: We are collecting a number of data for this program and will utilize it to continue to develop and refine this program. This is a new and a dynamic entity, which is open to some modification as determined by community needs. LC: I know that it is wise for individuals to review records and documents with agents/people who gather information. This way, if there seem to be or are things that the client does not see as an accurate record, they can have that noted. A person's needs are met better when they are more clearly understood, stated and documented with a meeting of the minds. Most importantly let us always keep in mind that it is more productive to prevent a crisis and address things that are preventable. Let us not leave the marginalized in a place to use substances as an answer. Let us restore hope and trust in our communities and their professional and voluntary agents. As a further update, as of January 19, 2023 there is a free Narcan vending machine in the front vestibule (Huron St. entrance) of City Hall. Obtain this at your own discretion and purpose of comfortability for a crisis that may arise, whether it be known or unknown to you. Thank you, City of Ann Arbor, for your willingness and ability to move forward with a unified goal to connect the otherwise silenced and unheard (because of shame or the lack of connection) to community facilities and their resources. For anyone looking to contribute to or engage with Supportive Connections please contact them by phone at 734-794-6934, or by email at SupportiveConnections@a2.gov.org, or online at a2gov.org/ SupportiveConnections. Sunday, February 5 • 4–6pm Downtown Libary As part of the 2023 Washtenaw Read, AADL hosts Kiley Reid, author of the 2023 Washtenaw Reads title Such a Fun Age for a talk, reading, and Q&A session. This event includes a signing with books for sale. For more information about Washtenaw Reads and previous years’ reads, go to wread.org. GROUNDCOVER NEWS What’s Happening at the Ann Arbor District Library Open 10am–8pm Daily Hang out in any of our five locations across town, browsing books, magazines, newspapers, and more, or check out movies, CDs, art prints, musical instruments, and science tools— you name it! Study and meeting rooms, fast and free WiFi, and plenty of places to sit and hang out. Databases at AADL Did you know all AADL library card holders have access to databases? You can search consumer reports, genealogy, and much more! Visit AADL.org/ collections/databases. AADL Shelf Service Place your request with our Shelf Service and let AADL know the types of things you’re looking for–AADL staff will fill a bag with items we think you’ll like! For more information visit AADL.org/shelfservice FEATURED EVENT 5

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