Problem:
This week's focus for me as its prevalent in my town is homelessness. Now homelessness is not a crime, yet survival behaviors such as loitering, trespassing, and substance use often place unhoused individuals in repeated contact with law enforcement. In Three Rivers, impacted groups include adults in poverty, youth aging out of foster care, survivors of domestic violence, and individuals with untreated mental illness or substance use disorders. Police responses have often relied on "move-along" tactics that displace individuals and deepen mistrust. The city's new Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training offers a more humane alternative, equipping officers to recognize mental illness, de-escalate crises, and divert individuals to treatment rather than jail (Watson, Compton, & Pope, 2019). My interview with Bryann Books, LBSW, Police Social Worker Liaison, highlighted how embedded social workers strengthen crisis response, reduce criminalization, and connect clients to resources. Derrick Jackson's TEDx Talk (2016) illustrate how collaborative models between social work and law enforcement foster trust and reduce harm. Social workers advocate at multiple levels: micro (assisting individuals with resources and citations), mezzo (partnering with police and community agencies), and macro (policy advocacy and funding for housing). Though emotionally demanding, self-care strategies such as supervision, boundaries, and mindfulness sustain practice. Need Assignment Help?