The Community Response Team originally started out as our WHA Contact Tracers Team in early 2019 connecting with residents remotely through the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) to assist residents but also provide vital information to those who may have been around someone who recently contracted the virus known as COVID-19.
Now in 2022 our team dynamic has changed to Community Outreach, being more grassroots connecting and bringing awareness to everyone in the Austin and surrounding Westside of Chicago Communities to empower the residents with vital information on vaccinations, vaccination events and actually setting up at home vaccinations appointments for those in need. Our team is updated on all COVID-19 related news and developments from reliable sources, including: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH).
The Community Response Team is also providing the community with important resources and vital information, the team uses the “Chicago Cares Survey” to connect with community members to access their needs and provide feedback. Some of these resources range from food security, health and mental health, employment, re-entry services/ programs, housing, childcare and in some cases Legal assistance. Many of these resources are provided right in house here at WHA, but we also rely on our partnering organizations to assist us with providing the necessary resources to help out everyone our team comes in contact with.
The Community Response Team also is developing our Workforce Component with the assistance of our partner Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership which allows our team members the ability to take one day from their job schedule every week to further their education or learn a skill by receiving certification through the “Earn and Learn” program. They also have the option to increase their skillset and by doing self-learning work using other platforms to educate themselves. We document their success paths in hopes of every team member obtaining a better skillset than when they started and begin the process of finding that career in something they’re passionate about.
The Community Response Team are continuing to build relationships within the Community, connecting with Community Businesses as well as organizations we may not have relationships with. If you are interested in learning more please connect with us.
Funded By: Chicago Cook Workforce