|
Services for the Homeless |
 | O'Hare Outreach |
| Mentally Ill Substance Abuse Program (MISA) |
Established to assist homeless individuals who may frequent the terminals at O'Hare International Airport, the O'Hare Outreach program of Haymarket Center functions through a staff available in the terminal complex daily from 9 a.m. to midnight.
Counselors assess homeless individuals who may have alcohol and other substance abuse problems as well as possible mental and physical health problems. They are offered detox and recover services at Haymarket Center and other centers. They may be referred to nursing homes or to receive medical or psychiatric treatment.
They are transported from the airport to these treatment centers as well as to shelters.
Counselors also deal with occupational and financial needs of homeless individuals at the Outreach office, and family counseling is available as well.
The City of Chicago funds this program of Haymarket Center. Occasionally, as when extreme weather conditions create problems for airline passengers traveling through Chicago, the City's Aviation Department calls on the O'Hare Outreach staff to assist in providing snacks and other comforts for stranded passengers who must stay in the terminals overnight, when restaurants and shops are closed. The staff also assists individual travelers in emergencies.
A 16-bed shelter is funded by the City of Chicago Department of Human Services to serve the homeless mentally ill. Detox services are available within Haymarket Center if needed.
Each client is fully assessed. Medical and psychiatric services are triaged for care, and transportation is provided.
Clients are monitored for mental health. A structured daily schedule is maintained, and guidance and education services provide life skill enhancements, which assist clients toward independent living.
Case management services are provided on site. Clients assessed to be dually diagnosed receive substance abuse dependency counseling.
Accommodations for men and women are separate. Clients share group activities including life skill counseling, meals and recreation. Self-help meetings are available daily.
A psychiatric team, consisting of a psychiatrist, a clinical psychologist, and a licensed, certified social worker assist the hands-on staff in the unit.