Ann Arbor

---

 

About the Program

In 2007, Project Outreach Team of Washtenaw County sent Sara Silvennoinen to the Street Soccer USA National Organizing COnference to learn about the program. A year later Sara and her newly organized team were participating with 11 other cities at the Street OSccer USA Cup in Washington, DC. The Project Outreach Team (PORT) is an intensive community outreach team the consists of two distinctive integrated teams. The Homeless Project Outreach Team (HPORT) serves the homeless, mentally ill population in Washtenaw County. The Justice Project Outreach Team (JPORT) serves individuals who are involved with the justice system and need mental health assistance.

 

A key service PORT provides is ongoing psychiatric services, including assessments, consultation, and medication manangement to individuals who are homeless and those in the justice system who need mental health assistance. Street Soccer PORT (SSPORT) has a mission to use soccer as a way to engage and empower the homeless in the community. SSPORT's vision is to use soccer as a tool to provide a healthy social activity forpeople in the homeless community, with the goal of providing a positive and empowering experience. The team also hosts an annual fundraiser challenge match against the local sheriff's office to promote fairplay, comraderie, and cooperation between the city's homeless population and the police force. 

 

SSPORT placed fourth out of 12 teams in 2008 and 12 of 16 in 2009. However, the team has recieved two very impressive awards. In 2008, the team's sole female won The Washington Kastles Trophy for most outstanding female athlete. The Kastles, like SSUSA, promote and encourage the inclusion of women in sports and coed competition. Also in 2008, Coach Sara Silvennoinen was awarded the Kevin Carroll Katalyst Trophy for best embodying and encouraging Kevin's mantra, "A ball can change your life" by his or her work with players on and off the soccer field. Coach Sara Silvennoinen coached the US National Team in Australia during the Homeless World Cup in December of 2008.

 

 

In addition to these awards the team also reports amazing results. The program has engaged with 75 individuals last year. Out of the 13 players that traveled to DC in 2009, all are housed. Five are in college, four are recieving mental health services, two are working on their recovery from substances and one person suffers from bipolar disease and was self-medicating. That individual is now housed, playing soccer regularly, meeting with a psychiatrist, and visiting with his family regularly.