Safe Ride Specialist

Safe Ride Specialists provide a visible, trauma-informed, customer-centered presence across CTA rail assets to proactively identify riders experiencing behavioral health crises, substance use challenges, housing instability, or other vulnerabilities and connect them to supportive services through warm handoffs and coordinated follow-up. The role augments existing safety resources (security, outreach, and law enforcement) by focusing on engagement, de-escalation, and service navigation while supporting a safe, welcoming transit environment. About Prism Health Prism Health Lab is a community-based medical practice that has served Chicagoland residents since 1987. In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, we pivoted our practice to support local communities and have made significant strides by focusing our efforts on COVID-19 specific services. To date, we have tested over 50,000 people.We’ve created eight permanent locations, each of which has an incredible story and was offered as a gift by the communities we serve. We’ve also built mobile teams that can work across the State, ready to be deployed as new hotspots arise. We’re dedicated to our neighbors and have partnered with a variety of organizations and leaders including local and County Health Departments, school districts, the City of Chicago and its Aldermen, food banks, Brookfield Zoo, and professional organizations like the Chicago Medical Society. Description Program: Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) – Crisis Intervention / Safe Ride Pilot Service Provider: PRISM Health Locations: Chicago (rail lines/stations within designated pilot zones; rotating “hotspot” deployments) Schedule: Coverage may include early mornings, afternoons, late evenings, weekends/holidays; variable shifts based on service needs and weather conditions Proactively patrol assigned CTA stations, platforms, trains, and bus turnarounds within pilot zones. Identify individuals experiencing behavioral health crises or other vulnerabilities using a compassionate, nonjudgmental approach. De-escalate low-level conflicts and behavioral health situations using trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and crisis de-escalation strategies. Conduct welfare checks, supportive conversations, and needs assessments. Offer practical resources and navigation support (shelter, food access, mental health/substance use services, transportation options, etc.). Maintain a “network-ready” referral process and coordinate warm handoffs to treatment providers, crisis lines, outreach partners, respite sites, and housing navigation resources. Arrange and coordinate transportation supports as permitted by pilot operations (for staff and clients to referral sites/places of respite). Document referral outcomes and follow-up needs. Coordination with CTA & Safety Ecosystem Build strong working relationships with CTA frontline staff, contracted security, outreach teams, and law enforcement partners (including CPD) when escalation protocols require it. Follow established incident escalation pathways for higher-risk situations; request emergency response when a situation exceeds scope. Documentation, Data & Reporting Capture required data for each contact using program tools (phone/tablet/apps), including: location, presenting issue, de-escalation actions, referrals, disposition, and follow-up needs. Contribute to pilot KPI tracking (contacts, de-escalations, referrals, successful warm handoffs, incident reduction indicators, and perception-of-safety measures). Safety, Professionalism & Compliance Maintain strict confidentiality and respectful communication with all riders and CTA personnel. Comply with required background checks and safety clearances; adhere to PPE/uniform requirements and biohazard safety protocols. Minimum Qualifications Experience: 2–3 years of relevant experience in crisis response, outreach, behavioral health, social services, or public-safety-adjacent work; experience in high-volume public settings, transit environments, and/or with unhoused populations strongly preferred. Demonstrated ability to de-escalate tense situations and communicate calmly under pressure. Ability to document clearly and use mobile technology (phone/tablet) in the field. Valid driver’s license preferred. Preferred Qualifications Lived experience and/or strong connections to community-based services in the pilot corridors. Bilingual/multilingual capacity aligned with pilot zone needs (e.g., Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Chinese). Relevant credentials (preferred): CPR/First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, harm reduction training, de-escalation certifications, peer support certification, case management training. #J-18808-Ljbffr Prism-Health