Island Crisis Care Society (ICCS) Outreach services provide opportunities for participants to become connected with other community resources so that a full wrap around approach is available.  For example, recently our Outreach services assisted a client who was unhoused, residing in a tent along the mid-island coast, and then found themself back in Parkville.  Our Outreach services supported the individual in developing their cover letter, and resume, as well as a new email address to attach to these documents for applying for employment via online employment portals.  The online application process steps were explained to the individual to increase their chances of securing gainful employment.  Our Outreach services supported the client with work searches and job readiness shopping at the local thrift store so that they could, “dress for success” for their upcoming interview. Within a three-week period, they were able to secure a job!

Another example of connecting participants with other community resources comes from one of our Outreach clients who is actively pursuing an application into one of our ICCS Supportive Housing sites in Oceanside.  Prior to becoming connected with our Outreach services, this person had no supports in place, now they access additional services and supports in the community that includes both Island Health and Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (MSDPR).  Our outreach continues to team up with Society of Organized Services (SOS) and the community shower program.  Recently, a concerned parent came in looking for their missing youth because the youth was facing challenges with their health.  Our Outreach services were in contact with the missing youth during a daily route check and had referred them to the shower program.  At the shower program, ICCS Outreach leveraged the working relationships that ICCS has with Island Health (IH) and requested that IH Mental Health team connect with the youth once they finished at the shower program that day. As a result, this individual is now connected with a team of service providers to ensure positive health supports and resources are in place, and the youth's parent has some peace of mind!