Community Resource Coordination (CRC) in the Libraries - ANCHORAGE PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMUNITY RESOURCE SEPTEMBER 2018-PRESENT

Community
Resource
Coordination
(CRC) in the
Libraries
ANCHORAGE PUBLIC LIBRARY

COMMUNITY RESOURCE
COORDINATORS

SEPTEMBER 2018-PRESENT

27% of patrons self-identified
  as MH Trust beneficiaries
• Mental health, substance use
                                             25% self-identified as
  disorder, traumatic brain injury,         currently experiencing
  developmental disorders, Alzheimer's          homelessness
  and related dementias

                                            Of those who visit every
 45% have no Internet access
                                         single day, 56% are homeless;
          at home
                                          many stay for 4+ hours a day

        Why the Libraries?
2017 Survey Results (Loussac Library)

CRC Team Timeline
•   2015: A librarian and a social work professor met at a
    conference
•   2016-2018: UAA Masters of Social Work Interns at
    Loussac and MV
•   2018-present: Full time MSW based at Loussac
•   March 2020-End of March 2021: Pandemic closure
•   November 2020: Hired Assistant Community Resource
    Coordinator Ziona Brownlow based at Mt. View
•   April 2021: Re-open all locations for in-person guests
•   June 2021: Hired Assistant Community Resource
    Coordinator Latoya Alloway based half at Muldoon
    library, half remote
•   Fall 2021: Three UAA students currently undergoing
    training to be able to assist with CRC work

CRC Activities
• Outreach: Identifying and assisting vulnerable individuals in
  the library
• Referrals and warm handoffs:
      •   Including diversion from inappropriate use of emergency services
• Programming:
      •   Housing Lab (263 attendees in 2019, 19 in 2021)
      •   Partnered programming
• Respond to community needs:
      •   Example: Responded to intensive need for AHFC assistance
              •   Friday Mountain View library 2pm-5pm
              •   Housing Lab on First Fridays
• Support Library development:
      •   Assisted with Code of Conduct revision during building closure, located
          staff training resources for mental health and response to escalated
          events
• 50+ programs across the US but this one is ours
      •   NOT: EMS, case management or clinical
      •   Connectors: We are within the traditional services of a library but +

Years 1-3 Financial support:
            •   Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
            •   Alaska Community Foundation
            •   Rasmuson Foundation
            •   Recover Alaska

            Community Contacts:
Supports
            • Anchorage Health Department Aging and
2018-2021     Disability Resource Center, Anchorage
              Coalition to End Homelessness, CSS
              Homeless Family Services & Supportive
              Services for Veteran Families, Choices,
              AWAIC, Partners Reentry Center, SNAP
              Outreach, Cook Inlet Housing Authority,
              NeighborWorks, Alaska Mental Health
              Consumer Web, Covenant House Alaska,
              and more!

Team Vision: 2022+
  • CRC
      • Assistant CRCs (2)
         • Peer Outreach
           Workers (PT x4)
             • Student interns
               (2-3)
  • Coverage at 3 libraries
  • Flexibility to meet varying needs

Total connected with
  Total Individuals                            Total connected SNAP
                         housing or diverted
     Assisted:                                  and food resources:
                        from homelessness:
        253                                            34
                                38

Total connected to BH   Total connected
                                  /     with    Emergency service
      resources:        employment/income:         diversions:
         17                     31                     22

     2021 Successful Outcomes

Additional Data: 2021
Utilization rates and examples                  Trespasses resolved/diverted from
 ◦ Demographics:                                APD
     ◦ ~50/50 men and women                      ◦ 5
     ◦ 50% of our customers are 50+
                                                Does this person access shelter?
                                                 ◦ Yes: 189
Resolution rate for housing
 ◦   Housing: 1 in 5 (100% not APL resources)    ◦ No: 62 (~1 in 3 customers enrolled)
 ◦   Food resource connections:                   ◦ If no, why not?
 ◦   Wellness: We do not have uptake data           ◦ Perceived safety risks, disabilities,
 ◦   Economic: 4 jobs this summer—refer out            trespasses
We use an unshared HMIS project
to collect our data and protect
customer confidentiality but will
gladly share aggregated data if
asked

Rebecca Barker

    Contact   Community Resource Coordinator
              907-343-2911
Information   Rebecca.barker@anchorageak.gov
              M-F 8:30-5pm