>>> THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS RAMPING UP TO HELP PEOPLE BEYOND JAIL WALLS.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ IS TELLING US MORE ABOUT IT.

>> BERNARD HAS SPENT 15 YEARS DOING PREVENTION WORK IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

>> THERE'S AN IDEA THAT WE ARE HERE TO APPREHEND , THAT WE ARE HERE TO ARREST.

>> BERNARD HAS BEEN HELPING PEOPLE IN THESE FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS FOR YEARS.

>> SOMETIMES THEY COME IN AND DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY NEED.

WE WOULD BE A FACE, WE WOULD BE A HELPING HAND .

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM.

>> WE ARE DOING ALL OF THIS WORK WITH PEOPLE AND WORKING WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL ISSUES WHERE THERE WAS VERY LITTLE SERVICES OUT THERE.

>> THEY INITIALLY STARTED VIRTUALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC , WITH RESOURCES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AVAILABLE TO A BIGGER POPULATION THAT STARTED OPERATING IN VARIOUS HEALTH HUBS.

>> YOU ARE ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING OR YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO STAY .

THE THINGS THAT MIGHT SEEM VERY SIMPLE CAN BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

>> SHE SAYS SHE HAS SUPPORTED DOZENS OF INDIVIDUALS.

>> WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON THAT THEY STRUGGLE WITH THAT YOU NOTICE?

>> WE STRUGGLE WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENCES.

WE TRY TO ISOLATE WHAT THESE STRUGGLES MIGHT BE , TO FIND WITH A START.

>> DO WE DO LAW ENFORCEMENT?

OF COURSE WE DO.

BUT ALSO,