First Call for Help, a local non-profit organization made of a cohort of specialized crisis response teams (CRT) provided an annual update to the Itasca County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, July 9.
Executive Director of First Call for Help Cre Larson was joined by Tom Gafney and Dr. Justin Gambill to inform the board of the critical work they do to intervene in mental health and other crises experienced by local members of the community.
Larson spoke about the organization’s call center, which implemented a 988 suicide crisis hotline two years ago, saying tens of thousands of calls were answered in previous years to directly support people experiencing a crisis in their lives.
In 2021, the call center in Grand Rapids answered just over 44,000 calls.
That number increased to nearly 70,000 in 2022.
The increased number is not so alarming to First Call for Help, as it is reassuring that people are reaching out to use resources in search of help and answers, rather than isolating and leaning toward destructive behaviors.
“People know where to call,” Larson said.
She explained that in 2021, Minnesota reported 808 statewide suicide deaths, while seeing an increase to 835 in 2022. 15 of those suicides occurred in Itasca County in 2021, and seven in 2022.
While the numbers show a decrease, the seven lives lost means the work continues for the organization to reach the people in search of help and answers before resorting to such a tragedy.
“We saw a 141.5 percent increase [in calls] since 2020. That shows people are utilizing services rather than isolating,” Larson explained to the commissioners.
Face-to-face interventions have increased as well according to Larson. First Call for Help does not just answer the phone in times of crisis, but has trained professionals a phone call away that will meet you where you live or at their call center in northwest Grand Rapids to offer support, services, and opportunities.
For those who find themselves at the hospital, CRT will meet you there also. Local CRT teams meet with people individually, and develop individualized plans specific to that person’s needs. They partner with other community organizations such as Northland Counseling, Compass North, ministry services, and government agencies to be able to cast a net wide enough to help anyone in need.
They will help locate available crisis beds to places such as Prairie St. John, or the Hibbing Hospital, in addition to New Leaf Crisis Center, a regional crisis center operated in Cohasset. Larson said the utilization of crisis beds has increased, taking pressure off of the emergency rooms in the area.
For those individuals who don’t have transportation, First Call for Help provided more than 400 rides last year.
The Veterans Crisis Response Team, one of the CRT arms of First Call for Help, meets specifically with Veterans, and has developed into a blueprint model for veterans organizations across the country.
“VCRT is full-speed ahead in their sixth year,” she said. “It’s a model program for the state, and only one of five in the nation.” The team will also deliver their model to the National Veterans Conference later this year Larson says.
First Call has also developed a program to help reach youth who are struggling at school. The new adolescent crisis response team is the only one in the state specifically meant for working with kids under 18. The partnership with the schools to intervene is meant to support the student in hopes of the best outcome.
Larson was excited to announce that the First Call for Help call center is set to move to a larger location, just down the street in NW Grand Rapids. They will be moving into the Dondelinger Dodge facility, with plans to remodel the existing building to expand additional services on site. They hope to make the move as soon as they are able to.
Larson said you can call for an assessment anytime of day, no matter the circumstances, and encourage family and friends of someone in crisis to make the referral. The call center can be reached by dialing 211, or 988, 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
Itasca County Probation Director Kevin Glass notified the board Tuesday that Jason Anderson, the former director, as well as officer Chelsea Rabey, have been recognized for their contributions to the profession.
Glass says Rabey is receiving the Outstanding Performance Award, and Anderson will receive the Al Reker Distinguished Service Award presented by the Minnesota Association of County Probation Officers.
Splithand Township in Burl Ives’ District 4, made an American Rescue Plan (ARP) request to focus on road maintenance, fire protection, and other potential community improvements.
“They’re roads are in dire need of work,” said Ives.
The request was approved for $75,000.
On Tuesday, the board held a brief discussion on potential changes to their processes for paying commissioner’s warrants. The board currently approves warrants bi-monthly, which can lead to five Tuesday’s in a month disrupting their ability to pay certain bills on time. County Board Chair John Johnson (D3) suggested moving warrants as a weekly fixed agenda item to avoid any disruptions in the future. He also recommended the board utilize email to receive certain reports in an effort to reduce paper and cost, while improving efficiency.
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting:
New Itasca County Attorney Jacob Fauchild has three interviews scheduled for Assistant Itasca County Attorneys, and says he will have the candidates commitment to Itasca County in mind during the process.Commissioner Warrants totaled $1.3 million, which includes the last full amount due to Waste Management.Adopted a resolution for a Squaw Lake Multi-use Recreational Trail Bridge IRRR Regional Trails grant application.Approved the 2024 event lease agreement between Itasca County and the Northern Minnesota Swap Meet and Car Show.Approved a 2024 Bass Lake Fishing Pier Coop Agreement between Itasca County and the State of Minnesota.Authorized out-of-state travel to West Palm Beach, FL for Corrections Mental Health Practitioner, Ashley Mohler, to attend a intensive Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) training for five days.
To view the Itasca County Board meeting in its entirety, it can be found online at watchictv.org/
ICTV is a nonprofit that connects, informs and empowers the community through diverse media. With program topics as wide ranging as government meetings, traffic updates, human interest stories and education, ICTV tells the story of our community.
ICTV is funded by the Grand Rapids Area Cable Commission, the Blandin Foundation, Itasca County, our members, donors and service income.
Most Popular
Comments / 0