Oak Park has hired Maxie Moses and Kimberly Smith as care coordinators for the alternative police response pilot program, the first phase of which was adopted June 11, 2024.
The alternative police response efforts have been named the E.C.H.O. Program, or Engaging Communities for Healthy Outcomes, within the neighborhood services department.
The goal of the program, currently in its pilot phase, is to offer a holistic approach to calls for service. That includes community care navigation to provide follow-up services for residents in need and unarmed service response to low-risk non-mental health-related calls.
It’s intended to “enhance community safety and well-being by providing thoughtful, compassionate responses” to calls for service through 911, according to village officials.
In 2023, a village taskforce presented recommendations on how to respond to certain emergency calls. Trustees allocated $1.1 million for the pilot.
The two-year pilot program was presented to Oak Park’s village board in April 2024, but was sent back for review to evaluate concerns about a divided response between village-employed mental health professionals and Thrive Counseling Center.
Village trustees approved phase one of the pilot last June, implementing a response to non-mental health-related calls and follow-up connection with services. For this phase, village staff recommended creating a community care navigation team and having community service officers to respond to low-risk calls for services that were not mental health related.
The community care navigation team would not respond directly to 911 calls, instead connecting residents who were already engaged with emergency responders to additional services or case management. The community service officers, unarmed civilian members of the Oak Park Police Department, would respond to calls such as property damage, minor thefts, car accidents or injuries on public property.
In November 2024, Oak Park trustees continued plans for phase two of the alternative police response, including how to respond to behavioral or mental health-related calls. They could build out response with village-hired mental health professionals or outsource much of the work to Thrive Counseling Center.
The early consensus was to expand the role of Thrive, but discussions are expected to come back to the village board in early 2025.
Moses and Smith will work with community members to provide support, connect individuals with necessary resources and “ensure that everyone feels seen, heard and valued,” according to village officials.
Moses has a master’s degree in social work from Northeastern Illinois University along with professional experience. Smith has a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Phoenix and professional leadership experience as a healthcare professional.