No two days are ever the same for the Community Health Integrated Care Pilot (CHIC) team in Lambton County. This dedicated duo, clad in bright green shirts and equipped with large packs, roams the county, responding wherever help is needed most. From their headquarters, they set out each day without a fixed route—ready to provide care and support wherever the call takes them.
To better understand their work and the challenges they face, the Journal joined the CHIC team for a ride-along. On this particular day, Mike, a full-time paramedic, and Sydney, a substance use navigator, were running a bit behind schedule. An oil change on their truck had delayed their start, and they had to repack their supplies before heading out. Despite the late start, neither Mike nor Sydney could predict what lay ahead—a typical reality for the CHIC team.
The CHIC team starts each day by reviewing shift logs to understand what happened the day before. While this helps prepare them, much of their work relies on the trust and rapport they’ve built with the community.
“A lot of times, because we are getting known more to the community and the population we serve, when we go out there, the clients kind of just come up to us," says Sydney. "We've worked really hard to build that trust and rapport with them.”
This trust didn’t happen overnight. Since the program’s launch in June, the CHIC team has put in months of effort, canvassing neighborhoods, introducing themselves, and ensuring people know they are there to help. Currently, 58 percent of their engagements are conducted through assertive outreach, rather than calls or referrals. Assertive outreach provides the opportunity to connect individuals to addiction supports, social supports and healthcare.
“A lot of it was earning trust when we first started,” says Mike, reflecting on the program’s early days. “None of us had ever worked in a program like this, and it’s not like it’s a super common thing. So, we were sort of making it up as we were going along. We didn’t really know how people were going to take us.”
The CHIC team’s bright green shirts aren’t just for visibility—they were chosen to symbolize the program’s focus on mental health and addiction support.
“We already knew that Sarnia Police [Impact Team] were a bright blue…We knew that the County of Lambton Outreach team, they were in yellow,” explains Anita Trusler, Crisis System Navigation Manager at Lambton EMS. “So then we kind of thought, well, we're really funded for mental health and addiction support and wellness, and the green ribbon is the international symbol of mental health awareness.”
The distinctive green shirts have become an important part of how the team is recognized by the community. Mike recalls one instance during a 911 call when their shirts were hidden under black jackets due to the cold.
“At first, he kind of poked out of the side of his eye and was like, ‘Where’s your green shirts?’” Mike recounts. Once they explained, the man relaxed, saying, “Oh, alright, well, good seeing ya.”
For Mike and Sydney, the shirts are more than a uniform—they help foster connections and trust with the people they serve.
Mike has been a paramedic for over 23 years, working primarily in downtown Sarnia. During that time, he’s built strong connections with many residents, making the transition to the CHIC team a natural fit. Sydney, on the other hand, has been with Bluewater Health for just over three years. Her passion for outreach programs made her eager to join the team when the opportunity arose.
Their combined experiences have helped them form meaningful connections with the community. On their first stop of the day, what was intended to be a quick reminder about the mobile clinic at Rainbow Park turned into nearly two hours of interaction with multiple members and visitors at the location.
Sydney explains that this kind of engagement is common for the CHIC team.
“Sometimes they just want someone to come talk to and ask how their day is, or just want water or snacks,” she says.
Among those who approached the team that day was David, who initially felt apprehensive about seeking their help. After hearing about CHIC from others, he decided to give it a chance.
“When I had wounds all over myself, they helped treat them,” David says, reflecting on his experience with the team.
“There are not a whole lot of people out there who genuinely care,” he says. “I’ve told other people who were iffy about approaching them, that they are good people. They actually help and don’t look down on anybody.”
Another person who sought their help was a single father, who had a wound treated for the first time. He admitted he hadn’t heard of the mobile team before but was grateful for their assistance.
“This is a nice little program, it gets everybody kind of healed up,” he says. As a single father, his ability to get to the emergency room for treatment is limited, making the CHIC team’s mobile services invaluable. He noted that while he would consider going to the mobile clinic or hospital if advised, having the team readily available made it much easier for him to access care.
Encounters like these are not unusual for the CHIC team. Sydney and Mike explain that many individuals they assist are initially apprehensive about seeking medical care.
As an EMS paramedic, Mike is limited in the treatments he can provide. While he can treat wounds on-site, he cannot prescribe medications like antibiotics, often recommending patients visit a clinic or hospital for further care.
To help bridge this gap, the CHIC team frequently calls cabs or hands out bus tickets, removing transportation barriers that might prevent individuals from seeking necessary medical attention. By addressing issues early, the team helps prevent minor concerns from escalating into serious, unmanageable problems. According to their data, 22 percent of the individuals they treat are referred to additional support services.
The work can be emotionally demanding, requiring team members to balance the challenges of their role with their own wellbeing.
“You never really know,” says Mike, reflecting on the emotional toll. “They always say, you could do the same call 100 times in a row and that 101st one is the one you take home. So far, I’ve been lucky I haven’t had any of that, but it doesn’t mean that it won’t happen.”
Sydney adds that her approach is grounded in advice from one of her professors.
“At the end of the day, yeah, you are seeing some tough stuff,” she explains. “Even if the clients don’t remember your name, they are always going to remember how you made them feel.” She reflects, “I think I go home with that sometimes, and I’m like, as long as I know I supported someone to the best of my abilities, I can sit with that.”