Safer Foundation

“THE BYLAWS WERE AMENDED TO INCLUDE REMOTE PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS FOR DIRECTORS OR NONDIRECTOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS. Participation in such meeting shall constitute attendance and presence in person at the meeting of the person or persons so participating.”

“Form 990 has been presented in draft form to the finance committee for its review and approval prior to filing.”

“A conflict of interest policy applies to all employees as part of the code of ethics and business conduct. This is furnished to new employees at time of hire and annually to existing employees.”

“Compensation for the president/ceo is determined by reviewing of external non-profit survey data and gets presented to the board compensation committee chair. The chair develops and presents any appropriate compensation adjustment recommendations to the compensation committee for discussions and to the executive committee of the board for approval. This process was last undertaken in 2017.”

“Compensation for key employees is determined by the foundation's personnel policy and guidelines and considered for adjustment by the performance compensation system. This process was last undertaken in 2018.”

“AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST”

“THE PRISON EMERGENCY EARLY RELEASE RESPONSE (PEERR) EFFORT IS A CRISIS RESPONSE EFFORT DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO THE STATE'S EFFORTS TO DE-CARCERATE ILLINOIS STATE PRISONS IN ORDER TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF COVID WITHIN THESE CONGREGATE SETTINGS. ON APRIL 6, 2020, GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ISSUED EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-21 (COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 19) TO ADDRESS THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) IN ILLINOIS PRISONS. THE EXECUTIVE ORDER GAVE THE DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ("IDOC") THE AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE "EARLY RELEASE" TO INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE NEAR THE END OF THEIR SENTENCES AND MEDICAL FURLOUGHS FOR INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WITH VULNERABLE HEALTH. THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ZEROED IN ON THE 36,000 MALE AND FEMALE INMATES IN 28 FACILITIES, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHOM, BECAUSE OF THEIR CLOSE PROXIMITY AND CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER IN HOUSING UNITS AND DINING HALLS, ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO CONTRACTING AND SPREADING COVID-19. AS SUCH, AN INFLUX OF INDIVIDUALS WERE RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY. THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CONTACTED SAFER THE WEEK PRIOR TO REQUEST OUR ASSISTANCE IN PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THIS INFLUX OF PEOPLE. A WEEK LATER AFTER THIS REQUEST, INDIVIDUALS BEGAN EXITING AND SAFER BEGAN RECEIVING REFERRALS FROM IDOC OF PEOPLE BEING RELEASED FROM PRISONS ACROSS THE STATE AND RETURNING TO COOK COUNTY. TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THOSE RETURNING DURING THE PANDEMIC, SAFER FOUNDATION RECRUITED A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDERS AND ASSEMBLED AN AD-HOC CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM TO RECEIVE THESE REFERRALS IN A STRUCTURED AND COORDINATED MANNER. THESE PROVIDERS SPECIALIZE IN PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES THAT ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF RECIDIVISM, SUCH AS: HEALTHCARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, HOUSING, FOOD & NUTRITION, AND EMPLOYMENT. SERVICES INCLUDE INSURANCE VERIFICATION/PROOF OF COVERAGE; MEDICAID APPLICATIONS OR RE-ACTIVATIONS , SNAP APPLICATIONS, SSI/SSDI APPLICATIONS, BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT (CLOTHING, FOOD, GIFT CARDS, CELL PHONES), MEDICATIONS, PRIMARY CARE & PSYCHIATRIC APPOINTMENTS, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING / RECOVERY HOMES, SUBSTANCE USE / MENTAL HEALTH, FINANCIAL COUNSELING (CREDIT, BUDGETING, STIMULUS, TAX), RESUME WRITING; JOB READINESS TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, ID DOCUMENTATION (STATE IDS, BIRTH CERTIFICATE, SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS) In order to meet this goal, from April 1 to June 30th, the following services were given to various individuals: Provided IDOC REFERRALS (457), HOTLINE CALLS ( 336), ACTIVE CLIENTS (234), CARE PACKAGES DISTRIBUTED (48), CELL PHONES DISTRIBUTED (15), MEDICAID BENEFIT ASSISTANCE (119), SNAP APPLICATION ASSISTANCE (69),STIMULUS CHECK APPLICATION ASSISTANCE (46), REFERRALS TO PRIMARY CARE, MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, SSI/SSDI, HOUSING, AND OTHER SERVICES (172), EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE (INCLUDED)ASSISTANCE OBTAINING STATE IDS, SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS, RESUME WRITING, JOB REFERRALS, CLOTHING NEEDS, AND TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT) (63) AND, JOB STARTS (16).”

“During covid19, adult education staff successfully transitioned to hybrid learning, consisting of online and in-person instruction.”

“Safer opened its Wellness and Counseling Community office on January 7, 2019 at 808 South Kedzie. This community service offering added to the current services provided in the Adult Transition Centers. Safer Foundation provides DASA licensed and Medicaid Certified Substance Use Treatment, Education and Cognitive Behavior Interventions in our Adult Transition Centers and Community offices.”