Outreach and Engagement

The Outreach and Engagement Project, formerly of Also-Cornerstone, is an interagency endeavor that includes Columbus House, Inc., Hill Health Corporation, and Marrakech Behavioral Health Services.  This multi-agency team provides a range of community-based services to homeless adults who are not engaged with needed services.

The program serves homeless adults, ages 18 years and older, with serious mental illness and/or chronic substance abuse who are currently not engaged in treatment and other services, or who have a history of being discharged from treatment for non-compliance. 

The services are provided along a continuum, from case finding and engagement to transition to traditional treatment and services. Outreach/Case Finding is conducted in small teams at regularly scheduled times Monday through Friday.  Outreach sites include various community locations including, designated street and highway bridges, soup kitchens, shelters, and public locations such as the public library, the New Haven Green, and the train station.  Outreach activities serve to identify potential clients and screen for program eligibility. 

There is a strong emphasis on building a therapeutic rapport, especially with those whose illness, addiction, or prior experiences have left them distrustful of service systems.  The goal is to increase the acceptance of treatment and services, leading to improved quality of life and stability in the community.  Services at Outreach and Engagement are designed and implemented to support recovery, health and well-being; enhance the quality of life; reduce symptoms and hospitalization; increase resilience; restore and/or improve level of functioning and support the integration of the person served back into his/her community of choice.

The ultimate goal of the Outreach and Engagement is to transfer a client to traditional, long-term services and/or natural supports.

Case Management Services are provided according to the client’s ability to identify needs and accept services.  Case Management consists of a wide range of services, including:

Procuring basic needs such as:
  • Food
  • Clothing
  • Shelter 
  • Access to shower and laundry facilities
  • Acute medical care

Efforts to reduce potential harm to the individual, both imminent and chronic, including:
  • Exposure to extreme weather
  • Untreated medical conditions
  • Persistent substance abuse
  • Risky sexual behavior
  • Ongoing assessment of medical and behavioral health needs
  • Ongoing assessment of motivation for any needed treatment or services and use of Motivational Interviewing techniques to promote increased motivation

Referral and linkage to various needed service including:
  • Entitlements
  • Behavioral and medical treatment/care
  • Supportive/supported housing, shelter, sober house or drop-in center
  • Vocational and educational services
  • Specialized services for seniors, those with ABI, those with developmental disabilities, HIV, or residential or nursing home care
  • Crisis intervention
  • Coordination of services with other providers
  • Transition of services to new providers

For more information about the Outreach and Engagement Project, please contact Belinda Allen, Team Leader, Outreach & Engagement at (203) 776-9900, ext. 1050, or via email at ballen@theconnectioninc.org.
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