A dozen Los Angeles Campus students shared a calling this summer to help L.A.'s homeless population. Led by Dr. Debra Warner, lead faculty for the Southern California Department of Forensic Psychology, the group participated in a series of monthly citation clinics conceived to provide new options for indigent, mentally ill, or addicted adults facing fines for minor infractions such as littering, loitering, and jaywalking. The clinics are a part of City Attorneys Office's HALO program (Homeless Alternatives to Living on the Streets).

The students' work began on May 28 at the Midnight Mission in downtown L.A. A month later, on June 25, their efforts continued at the Music Box on Hollywood Boulevard where they assisted more than 140 people with their HALO Citation Clinic intake forms: agreements where in lieu of a fine, cited individuals perform four community obligation hours, per citation, with participating service providers. Of those, the City Attorney Office reported that 77 people, representing 228 citations, completed forms agreeing to the service hours, which can include time spent in personal counseling programs. The group returned to Midnight Mission on July 30 for a third clinic.

"Our students are not only getting valuable experience interacting with people in the forensic community, but they are working with the City Attorneys Office to evaluate and improve the program, which is a wonderful networking and professional development opportunity," said Dr. Warner.

In recognition for their work, Dr. Warner and her students-Nadrien Bishop, Jill Cowen, Joanna deSupinski, Becca Diercks, Shadavia France, Jessica Karabinus, Nora Martinez, Robert Nosic, Maria Pasqualetti, Eric Simpson, Alexis Sutton, and Jessica Woodward-were honored by the City Attorney's Office at a Los Angeles Campus event on July 28. To date, students have completed more than 280 pro bono service hours as part of the program.

"I think it is great for us as Chicago School students to offer our services to this population in need," said Nosic, a second-year student from Canton, Ohio. "This is the first time I've worked directly with the homeless."

"Most people we work with are grateful," added Bishop, a second-year student from Chicago. "They are relieved to have the burden off their shoulders."

The next HALO Citation Clinic is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, in West L.A. To learn more, including how to volunteer, contact Dr. Warner at dwarner@thechicagoschool.edu.