Community of Faith Education Event 2013

2013Community of Faith Education Event

Volunteer CenterInformation & Crisis Services

FirstLink is your local 24/7 service, specializing in suicide support services,

volunteerism, and linking people to thousands of community resources.

Mission and Vision

FirstLink’s mission is to assist people in identifying, accessing, and making effective use of community and volunteer resources.

FirstLink’s vision is to be the first link in linking people and resources 24 hours a day.

FirstLink’s History1967 - Volunteer Community Service began.

1970 - Began answering HotLine calls.

1973 - Organized Holiday Clearing Bureau (previously known as Season of Hope and currently known as Giving Tree of Hope).

1981 - HotLine, Inc. became a 24 hour program including answering the Suicide Prevention Line.

1987 - Became accredited through American Association of Suicidology (AAS).

1996 - Began Suicide Education Outreach in local schools.1998 - Community Resources, Inc. became FirstLink. 2007 - Began providing 2-1-1 service for calls that originate in Cass County, ND and Clay County, MN.

2009 - Received accreditation from the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS). Coordinated over 100,000 volunteers for the flood in Fargo-Moorhead

2010 - Received the 2-1-1 designation for the entire state of North Dakota.

2012 - Received funding from the ND Department of Health to provide long-term suicide follow-up calls.

Accreditations

Accredited by:

American Association of Suicidology(AAS) since 1987

Alliance of Information and ReferralSystems (AIRS) since 2009

Health Benefits of Volunteering

• Sense of purpose• Opportunities to connect with others • Lower rates of depression • Greater functional ability

Source: Corporation for National & Community Service

Volunteer Center

• Connects volunteers with opportunities to serve.

• Builds capacity for effective local volunteering.

• Promotes volunteering.

• Participates in strategic initiatives to meet local needs.

Connect Volunteers and Opportunities

• Email and social media marketing

• Nonprofit and volunteer fairs

• You Are Needed ads

• Service days

• Websites

How to Find Volunteer Opportunities

A. Start by going to www.myfirstlink.org. Then click on the “Be the Change: Volunteer” blue circle.

B. From there, you will be brought to the volunteer website FirstLink partners with Impact Foundation to provide.

C. Scroll down to see many diverse volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer Website Tutorial (FirstLink): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI08Q4eMwP4

FirstLink’s You Are Needed Ads

• Weekly emails with a listing of volunteer opportunities.• Opportunities for volunteer

groups• Opportunities for

individuals

• Emails get sent to approximately 30 local businesses, schools, clubs, media outlets, and social media.

• Separate from FirstLink’svolunteer website with Impact Foundation

• Free http://www.myfirstlink.org/volunteer_opportunities

Build Capacity of Volunteer Programs

• Volunteer management trainingso Workshopo Website trainingso Volunteer management and leadership trainingso Social media trainingso Hot topics

• One-on-one consultations

Promote Volunteering

• Community Volunteer Appreciation Night• Email marketing and social media

o Service dayso You Are Needed adso Volunteer Appreciation week

• Presentations to volunteer groupso Faith communitieso Schoolso Businesses

• Community booths

Statistics from 2012

Volunteer Center Stats• Spoke to 1,005 participants about volunteerism• Provided volunteer management and leadership trainings

for 256 participants• Connected about 2,180 volunteers with volunteer

opportunities in Cass and Clay counties• Conducted 32 trainings, events, and presentations

Volunteer Website Stats• 239 new opportunities posted• 229 new volunteers signed up for opportunities • 1,083 new volunteer hours were tracked

Giving Tree of Hope

• Formerly known as Holiday Clearing Bureau and Season of Hope.

• Collection and distribution of holiday gifts for disadvantaged children and special needs adults in Cass and Clay counties.

• In 2012, 4,617 gifts were given to children and special needs adults.

Disaster Assistance

During a disaster FirstLink coordinates…

• Local cities’ and counties’ volunteers

• Several check-in sites for volunteers

• Volunteers who will answer the disaster hotlines

• Dissemination of information from authorities to community members

Information and Crisis Services

• A local family just learned that their child has a chronic health condition and will need to remodel their home.

• A single parent has run out of diapers and formula until pay day.

• A college graduate had car trouble and needs transportation to their new job.

• A grandparent is new to the area and looking for places and activities to spend time with grandchildren.

• A caller is experiencing suicide thoughts.

Information and Crisis Services

• 24 hour Telephone Serviceso FirstLink 2-1-1 Helplineo After-Hours Crisis Lineo National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL)

• Suicide Support Serviceso Suicide Survivors’ Support Groupo Suicide Education Outreach in the schoolso Suicide Prevention Trainings including ASISTo Walk of Hope

FirstLink 2-1-1 Helpline

• Dial 2-1-1 or 701-235-SEEK (7335)

• Free telephone service available 24 hours a day.

• Listening and Support- Provides a supportive, non-judgmental listening ear to anyone in need of support.

• Information and Referral about Health and Human Services.

o Nonprofit Organizations and Government Agencies

• Available to North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota.

Database of Community ResourcesIndividuals are welcome to call about a variety of needs including, but not limited to: • Abuse/Assault• Addiction• Basic Needs• Disability• Disaster Assistance• Emergency Shelter• Employment• Faith Communities• Financial Assistance• Food Assistance• Gambling• Grief• Healthcare

• Libraries• Mental Health• Military Support• Parenting• Recreation• Senior Centers• Substance Abuse• Suicide• Support Groups• Transportation• Volunteer Opportunities• Youth• AND MUCH MORE!!!

Examples of Resources

• The database contains almost 6,000 resources.

• Each entry includes a brief description, contact information, eligibility requirements, required documents, fees, office hours, etc.

• Viewable online: o www.myfirstlink.orgo Click: Community Resources

Accessing the Database Online

Information and Referral Role Play

Holiday Service Directory

• A seasonal directory that contains temporary resources available only during the holiday season.

• Contains things such as family events, holiday gifts, food baskets, etc.

• Information is available by calling our 2-1-1 Helpline or by accessing it on our website.

• Available to Cass County, ND and Clay County, MN.

Crisis Line

• FirstLink contracts with several crisis agencies to answer their calls after business hours.

• FirstLink screens each call for crisis intervention needs.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

• Connected to national network of crisis centers so no call goes unanswered

• Help those who are having thoughts of suicide or who have a concern about someone

• Only crisis center in North Dakota to answer NSPL calls

Suicide Concern Role Play

2012 Phone Statistics

• Total Calls from 2-1-1 Helpline, Crisis Line, and Suicide Lifeline: 39,623

o Total Resources Given: 18,741

o Total Suicide-Related Calls: 1,416

o Contacted Law Enforcement: 79

Call Types

Information (15,096)

38%

Referral (7,973)

20%

Crisis Intervention

(3,650) 9%

Listening & Support (12,904)

33%

Suicide Support Services

• Suicide Support Follow-up Program

• Suicide Education Outreach

• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

• Suicide Survivors’ Support Group

• Walk of Hope

Suicide Support Follow-Up Program

• A voluntary program offered to callers needing additional support.

• In the future plan to offer to callers on both our 2-1-1 Helpline and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL).

Suicide Education Outreach

• Provided since 1996

• Primarily serves 7th-12th grade students in Fargo and West Fargo, but is also available for other groups in Cass and Clay counties

• Students are trained on suicide statistics, risk factors, warning signs, and resources for help. (curriculum adapted from The Jason Foundation, Inc.)

• On average 2,000 local students participate each year

Suicide Intervention Training

• FirstLink offers Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).

o A 2-day workshop developed by LivingWorks, Inc. trains any community member to become a more effective suicide first-aid caregiver.

o Used nationwide by all National Suicide Prevention Lifeline centers and internationally by many mental health and government organizations.

Suicide Survivors’ Support Group• Purpose: to help people resolve their grief and pain in their

own personal way and to help them move forward in their lives, positively and productively.

• In existence since May 1993, providing support to those who have lost a loved one to suicide.

• Individuals can attend this group at no charge.

• Not affiliated with any religious group or denomination.

• Information packets for suicide survivors can be mailed out to anyone in ND or Clay County, MN upon request.

“Time heals all wounds” is not necessarily true for survivors of suicide. Time is necessary for healing, but time is not enough.

Shared feelings enrich and lead to growth and healing.

Walk of Hope

• Held during National Suicide Awareness Week

• Event of remembrance and suicide awareness

• September 8, 2013 in Fargo, North Dakota

2012 Suicide Support Statistics

• 100-150 individuals attended the annual Walk of Hope

• 1,752 students were educated about suicide awareness, risk factors, and warning signs.

• 1,248 adults were reached through suicide trainings

Collaboration and Community Involvement

• Agriwellness• Breakfast Club• Cass-Clay Voluntary Organizations

Active in Disaster (VOAD)• Central Cities Ministries• Child Abduction Response Team

(CART)• Citizen Corps Council• Coalition of Service Providers for

the Elderly• Community Assistance Meeting• Contracted with Fargo, Moorhead,

West Fargo, Cass, and Clay Counties

• Directors of Volunteer Services (DOVS)

• FM Coalition for Homeless Persons

• Fargo Moorhead Human Resource Association (FMHRA)

• Internship and social science programs at area colleges

• Gambling Coalition• Local Emergency Planning

Committee (LEPC)• NDSU Service-Learning Advisory

Board• North Dakota Suicide Prevention

Coalition• Red River Resilience• Region 4 Children’s Services

Coordinating Committee (Region 4 CSCC)

• State Health Insurance Counseling• Venture Youth Alliance• And others

Central Cities Ministries

• An organization of Christian denominations and social service agencies, who through mutual effort, offer spiritual, educational, and material assistance in service of people’s varied needs.

• FirstLink serves as the intake for the Communal Needs Fund

How FirstLink can help you

• Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.o Be the one call referral source for anyone contacting

you for resources/assistance.o Provide listening and support and crisis intervention

to anyone in need.

• Refer to your services, as appropriate. • Train staff in Suicide Prevention/Intervention

and Volunteer Management.• Be a link to connecting service and youth

groups to volunteer opportunities.• Assistance with recruiting volunteers for your

events.

How you can help FirstLink• Spread the word about FirstLink’s services (word of

mouth, posters, section in bulletin, etc.).• Encourage individuals and families to call 2-1-1 for

needs such as food, financial assistance, community involvement, etc.

• Keep us updated with your faith community’s services and resources (worship times, food pantry, financial assistance, volunteer opportunities, etc.).

• Sponsor gifts for Giving Tree of Hope.• Utilize our website to find community and volunteer

resources.• Contact area legislators.• Make a financial contribution.

Draw for prizes

Questions?

Stay Connected with FirstLink 24hrs a day!

2-1-1 Helpline: 2-1-1 or 701-235-SEEK (7335)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL):1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Website: www.myfirstlink.org

Follow us on Social Media:www.facebook.com/myfirstlinkwww.myfirstlink.areavoices.comhttp://twitter.com/myfirstlink_org

You may never know when you or a loved one will need FirstLink.

Let’s link together to better serve our community!

Thank You!