About

The Community Outreach Intervention Projects (“COIP”), in partnership with the UIC School of Public Health, was founded in 1986 to prevent HIV transmission among injection drug users. Since that time COIP has expanded its scope to by implementing client-centered, evidence-based approaches to harm reduction to serve the needs of hard-to-reach substance-using populations and address their health issues at five community-based field offices and through mobile van outreach.

COIP’s approach, known as the Indigenous Leader Outreach Mode (ILOM), specifies hiring and training members of targeted populations to provide direct services. It is widely recognized by cultural competency experts as providing higher client/provider compatibility. A leader in HIV prevention among substance users, COIP staff has conducted trainings in over 30 states, Canada, Australia, and in countries in South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

All COIP services offered have employ a trauma-informed approach, as there is recognition that the populations we work with are likely to have high levels of past and present trauma. COIP has several programs to reduce the harm caused by substance use, including: a syringe exchange program that provides sterile syringes and other safer drug use materials to reduce the risk of exposure to infectious agents; HIV and Hepatitis C rapid testing and counseling services; and drug overdose prevention education and naloxone distribution to reduce the risk of opioid overdose.

More services have been added recently to support our client-centered evidence-based approach to harm reduction. In 2018, COIP initiated a primary care clinic in collaboration with the UIC College of Medicine, College of Nursing, and the College of Pharmacy at COIP’s West Side Field Station to provide medical care to patients accessing our syringe exchange and other harm reduction programs. Medical services initially focused on HCV treatment and wound care for skin abscesses, but were expanded in 2019, and now include primary care, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), HCV treatment, HIV care, PrEP, women’s health, gender-affirming medical care, STI testing, and psychiatric care. Clinic patients can also access the broader University of Illinois Health (UIH) System resources, including specialty referrals. Recently, COIP expanded medical and harm reduction services to community members on the West Side of Chicago through implementation of the COIP Mobile MOUD Program.

Currently, COIP operates from storefront sites in Austin, Humboldt Park, West Englewood, South Chicago, and Uptown. Other neighborhoods are served by COIP’s motorhome and mobile van units. Our team has over 30 years of experience working in Chicago communities, especially in neighborhoods hardest hit by opioid overdoses.