$2 Million+ Investment Connects Thousands of St. Clair County Transit Riders to Critical Services

The safety and security of public transit remains a regional priority, and placing behavioral health providers on the system to address many of the underlying health determinants fueling behavioral challenges has proven to be highly impactful. This innovative effort started as a pilot program in October 2020, spearheaded by St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) and Chestnut Health Systems™ (Chestnut). SCCTD contracts with Bi-State Development to provide MetroLink and MetroBus services in St. Clair County. Since the program’s inception, SCCTD has invested more than $2 million in Chestnut, helping serve 4,298 transit riders in Illinois through 6,795 encounters, directly connecting 2,738 riders to services and distributing 1,414 risk-reduction kits.

The program places behavioral health professionals on the transit system to address underlying needs that can contribute to behavioral incidents. Three, two-person Chestnut teams work alongside St. Clair County Transit District Ambassadors, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department and Metro Transit Public Safety personnel to provide early intervention, connect riders with resources and improve the overall rider experience.

“We’ve invested more than $2 million in Chestnut since the inception of this programming and the impact on transit riders cannot be understated,” said Ken Sharkey, managing director for St. Clair County Transit District. “Behavioral health providers have given food, water, hygiene supplies and winter clothing to those in need, de-escalated arguments, connected those struggling with substance use to rehabilitation services, and everything in between. Services are helping to create a safer public transit system.”

The numbers demonstrate the program’s reach, but comments from riders illustrate its life-changing impact:

• “Chestnut was there for me when I was at my lowest; they got me into a detox program, and I’m celebrating 60 days in recovery soon.”
• “Chestnut showed me so much compassion when I was homeless and struggling with addiction, getting me into a shelter that same day and a methadone program the next. I’m forever grateful to them.”
• “I’m so grateful to Chestnut for helping me turn my life around. They got me into treatment, and now I’m in sober living, working a job and loving my life. Chestnut is a real lifesaver.”
• “If it wasn’t for Chestnut, I probably wouldn’t be alive. I’m two years sober and working as a peer specialist now, and I owe it all to them.”

Chestnut has office space in the Belleville Metro Station. In addition to its work with St. Clair County Transit District in St. Clair County, the organization has been able to help thousands of additional transit riders in St. Louis City and St. Louis County in Missouri and in Madison County, Ill. through similar partnerships with Metro Transit and Madison County Transit. This innovative programing has also been used as a model for other cities nationwide.

“We’re not afraid to try different things to give greater access to individuals,” said Amy Gibbar, Vice President of Integrated Care at Chestnut. “The outcomes speak volumes, and the success of this programming extends beyond numbers, dollars and cents. We are literally saving lives every month and changing the trajectory of hundreds more.”

To learn more, visit www.SCCTD.org or www.chestnut.org.