NCJ Number
32398
Date Published
1971
Length
99 pages
Annotation
FINAL REPORT ON A PROJECT DESIGNED TO PROVIDE TREATMENT FOR HOMELESS, INDIGENT MEN OF CHICAGO'S SKID ROW AREA, AND TO PRODUCE A PILOT EFFORT FOR THE OPERATION OF AN ALCOHOL DETOXIFICATION, DIAGNOSTIC, AND REFERRAL CENTER.
Abstract
THE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF ARREST, DETENTION, RELEASE, REARREST OF PUBLIC INEBRIATES. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE PROJECT GOALS, A TEN-BED UNIT WAS ADDED TO THE CHICAGO ALCOHOL TREATMENT CENTER. PATIENTS, OFFERED VOLUNTARY ADMISSION BY STREET RESCUE TEAMS (SRT), COMPOSED OF REFORMED ALCOHOLICS AND POLICEMEN, REMAIN FOR SEVEN TO TEN DAYS. TREATMENT EMPHASIS GRADUALLY SHIFTS FROM MEDICAL TO PSYCHOSOCIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING VOCATIONAL AND RESIDENTIAL RELOCATION SERVICES. UPON RELEASE, PATIENTS ARE REFERRED TO APPROPRIATE AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS FOR FURTHER CARE. SRT'S PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP CONTACTS AND DATA. EVALUATION WAS BASED ON STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF FOLLOW-UP DATA RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT, RESIDENCY, DRINKING HABITS, AND ARRESTS. RESULTS OF THIS ANALYSIS INDICATE A CONSISTENT AND SIGNIFICANT PATTERN OF REDUCED DRINKING, IMPROVED EMPLOYMENT STATUS, SOCIAL RATHER THAN SOLITARY LIVING ARRANGEMENTS, AND FEWER ARRESTS. RELEVANT DATA ARE PROVIDED IN TABLES.