Program Summary

  • SSU is one of four co-responder pilot programs established by 2022 Illinois legislation (65 ILCS 5/11-1.5).
  • Through SSU, a licensed social worker from Trillium Place (Carle Health) provided secondary crisis response and victim assistance in partnership with Peoria police.
  • In practice, SSU responded primarily to mental health-related crises and provided short-term crisis intervention, advocacy, and referrals to community-based services.
  • Referral pathways were primarily officer-initiated, and no dispatch-related barriers were documented during the pilot period.

Key Findings

  • The program connected participants to housing, legal, counseling, and other support services through on-scene and follow-up engagement.
  • The program demonstrated adaptability and strong community partnership, maintaining crisis response and referral functions despite staffing shortages that limited overall capacity.

Participants and Service Response

The following referral categories are not mutually exclusive and may overlap, as participants were able to receive more than one type of service during a single response, depending on identified needs. For this reason, percentages should not be interpreted as summing to 100%.

From January to July 2025, the program served 128 participants. Performance during this period reflects early implementation during program development and staffing ramp-up.

  • Staff reported 47% (60) of participants were White and 38% (49) were Black.
  • Staff reported 73% (94) of participants were female and 25% (32) were male.
  • Officers and a social worker responded to 51% (65) of participants’ cases together.

Of total participants served, program staff:

  • Responded to mental health crises in 40% (51) of participants’ cases.
  • Referred 33% (42) of participants’ cases to social support services.
  • Responded to private residences in 34% (44) of participants’ cases.

Program Performance

  • Crisis Response: SSU staff provided on-scene advocacy, referrals, and emotional support during and after crisis incidents.
  • Community Outreach: The program strengthened collaboration and service integration through regular outreach and coordination activities.
  • Adaptability: SSU maintained crisis response and referral functions despite limited staffing and the need to prioritize cases during peak activity periods.
  • Trust-building: The program became a reliable and approachable resource for residents.
  • Capacity Constraints: Response capacity was limited because the program had only one full-time social worker.
  • Program Implementation: During the early start-up period, limited staffing and multiple simultaneous crises at times constrained the program’s ability to respond during peak periods.