Community Programs
If you would like to contact us regarding any of these programs, and no program-specific email is listed, message [email protected].
ANTI-BULLYING WORKSHOP
Promoting respect and kindness, CCSO coordinates with schools to bring anti-bullying education to the classroom. The CCSO Anti-Bullying workshop teaches students to identify and prevent bullying happening online and, in the classroom, as well as techniques to navigate the internet safely. Students are empowered to choose kindness creating a culture of respect inside and outside the classroom.
COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER
The Community Resource Center (CRC) is a virtual supportive services initiative created and launched by Sheriff Tom Dart, in direct response to the increase in critical situations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, to connect individuals to resources in their communities. The CRC will leverage new and existing community partnerships to provide linkages to members of the community to address an individual’s unique mental health, substance abuse, housing, mortgage/rental assistance, trauma, domestic violence, and/or employment and financial needs, regardless of his/her/their involvement in the justice system.
FORD HEIGHTS SENIOR WELL-BEING CHECK
Through this program, seniors in Ford Heights receive phone calls on days of extreme weather conditions (heat, cold, disaster) or power outages to check on their well-being. If contact cannot be made with the resident, attempts will be made to contact individuals listed as emergency contacts and an officer will be dispatched to the residence to attempt to make physical contact with the resident.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKEBACK PROGRAM
Cook County residents can safely dispose of their unwanted medicines by taking them to a collection box, dozens of which are located throughout Cook County, or to designated community prescription drug take back events.
Participating local law enforcement and government agencies and pharmacies will accept unwanted Covered Drugs, including most prescription and over-the-counter medicines for disposal.
Mail-back envelopes are available for residents who are elderly or home-bound and have limited mobility.
There is no cost to residents to use this service.
SENIOR SELF-DEFENSE
CCSO coordinates with local entities to offer awareness lessons and basic defensive strategies for seniors regardless of their ability level. These proven tactics and strategies empower seniors to assure their own safety.
WANDERING RESPONSE PROGRAM
Autistic individuals, people with developmental disabilities and seniors with dementia are likely to wander from their homes and other safe spaces, putting them at risk of death or injury.
The Sheriff’s Wandering Response Program is intended to train family members, caregivers, and social service providers on ways to limit the risk of wandering.
One important way the wandering response program is doing this is by providing scent kits that help canines track scents in emergency situations. These kits allow an individual’s scent to be stored for years without contamination by other environmental factors, helping first responders search for a missing individual.
For more information, please email [email protected]