2. Volunteer Center
Information & Crisis Services
FirstLink is your local 24/7 service,
specializing in suicide support services,
volunteerism, and linking people to
thousands of community resources.
3. 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.
4. FirstLink’s History
1967 - 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.
6. 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
7. Volunteer Center
• Connects volunteers with opportunities to
serve.
• Builds capacity for effective local
volunteering.
• Promotes volunteering.
• Participates in strategic initiatives to meet
local needs.
8. Connect Volunteers and Opportunities
• Email and social media marketing
• Nonprofit and volunteer fairs
• You Are Needed ads
• Service days
• Websites
9. 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
10. 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’s
volunteer website with Impact
Foundation
• Free http://www.myfirstlink.org/volunteer_opportunities
11. Build Capacity of Volunteer Programs
• Volunteer management trainings
o Workshop
o Website trainings
o Volunteer management and leadership trainings
o Social media trainings
o Hot topics
• One-on-one consultations
12. Promote Volunteering
• Community Volunteer Appreciation Night
• Email marketing and social media
o Service days
o You Are Needed ads
o Volunteer Appreciation week
• Presentations to volunteer groups
o Faith communities
o Schools
o Businesses
• Community booths
13. 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
14. 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.
15. 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
16. 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.
17. Information and Crisis Services
• 24 hour Telephone Services
o FirstLink 2-1-1 Helpline
o After-Hours Crisis Line
o National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL)
• Suicide Support Services
o Suicide Survivors’ Support Group
o Suicide Education Outreach in the schools
o Suicide Prevention Trainings including ASIST
o Walk of Hope
18. 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.
19. Database of Community Resources
Individuals 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!!!
20. 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.org
o Click: Community Resources
23. 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.
24. Crisis Line
• FirstLink contracts with several crisis agencies to
answer their calls after business hours.
• FirstLink screens each call for crisis intervention
needs.
25. 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
27. 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
29. Suicide Support Services
• Suicide Support Follow-up Program
• Suicide Education Outreach
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
(ASIST)
• Suicide Survivors’ Support Group
• Walk of Hope
30. 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).
31. 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
32. 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.
33. 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.
34. Walk of Hope
• Held during National Suicide Awareness Week
• Event of remembrance and suicide awareness
• September 8, 2013 in Fargo, North Dakota
35. 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
36. 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
37. 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
38. 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.
39. 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.
41. 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/myfirstlink
www.myfirstlink.areavoices.com
http://twitter.com/myfirstlink_org
You may never know when you or a loved one will need FirstLink.
