This summer at the Urban Health Lab, I'll be working on the Roadmap Initiative, the Boulevard, and the Supportive Release Center (SRC) projects. The Roadmap Initiative uses data from All Chicago, Cook County Jail, and the Illinois Department of Public Health to identify members of the population who cycle through ERs, the jail, and homeless shelters at high rates. The Boulevard and SRC aim to provide individuals leaving the ER and the jail, respectively, a place to stay short-term and connect with necessary resources immediately upon discharge. I carry out a range of jobs at Urban Labs, including recruiting participants at Cook County Jail, writing policy briefs and pilot proposals, and working with data in the lab. It's been a great opportunity to apply my GHHP coursework and also learn about what research looks like in the field, as opposed to a lab setting!
