Deflection 101: A Public Health Approach to Community Safety
Topic Description
Deflection connects people to treatment, housing, and social services at the first point of contact—before crisis or justice involvement—rather than relying on arrest or ER visits. This session covers deflection fundamentals, its public health foundations (prevention, harm reduction, equity), and why first-responder encounters are key intervention points.
We'll also explore youth-focused approaches (early intervention, family and school engagement) and veteran-focused strategies (trauma-informed, VA-collaborative care), plus real-world case examples from Illinois initiatives. Participants will leave with practical strategies to build or strengthen deflection programs in their community.
Guest Speakers
Koren VanderWeelee - Senior Program Manager, TASC's Center for Health and Justice
Hope Fiori, MPPA - Director of Special Projects, TASC's Center for Health and Justice
For more information about our PHEd Talk series, check out our YouTube Page: