2. What We Do
Mission: to assist people in identifying, accessing, and making effective use of community and volunteer resources
Vision: to be the first link in linking people and resources 24 hours a day

3. Why and How We Do It
We believe in fighting the stigma of mental health issues and suicide through the services we provide:
Access to 24-hour help and hope through the Helpline and National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Trainings on suicide and mental health that range from a few hours to 2 days.
Follow-up calls to those that need extra support after suicidal thoughts or actions.
Emily Slide 1-12

4. Our Values Diversity Collaboration Excellence
We recognize that all people have time and talents to share, and that communities are strengthened when people connect through volunteer services.
Collaboration
We realize that we are at our best when we collaborate.
Excellence
We commit to implementing innovative and effective strategies, holding ourselves accountable for results, and sharing our knowledge and best practices with others.

5. History 1968 – Incorporation
1983 – Merged into the programs that are now FirstLink
1987 – We became accredited by the American Association of Suicidology
1995 – Dissolved United Way parent organization (Community Resources, Inc.)
1998 – FirstLink formed- changed the name from Community Resources, Inc. to FirstLink

6. History Continued
2009 – We became accredited by the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems
2010 – We became the designee for the state of North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota
2010 – Our holiday project (formerly Season of Hope) became Giving Tree of Hope
2012 – We began the Suicide Follow Up Call Program
2015 – We answered our 1 Millionth call!

7. FirstLink Today 24 Hour Telephone Services ​
FirstLink Helpline ​
Contract Agencies ​
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) ​ ​
Suicide Support Services ​
Suicide Follow-up Call Program ​
Suicide Education Outreach in the schools ​
Suicide Prevention Trainings​
Giving Tree of Hope with Toys for Tots – For Cass County, ND, Clay County, MN and surrounding area

8. Accreditations Accredited by: American Association of Suicidology
(AAS) since 1987
Alliance of Information and Referral
Systems (AIRS) since 2009

9. FirstLink 2-1-1 Helpline 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.
Mainly Nonprofit Organizations and Government Agencies
Available to North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota.

11. Database of Community Resources
Contains thousands of different programs, nonprofits, and government agencies
Each entry includes a brief program description, contact information, eligibility requirements, fees and office hours
Viewable online:
Click: “Find Resources Here”

12. 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!!!

13. Met Needs
FirstLink uses our call data is see patterns in what needs exist in our community.
Below are the three top needs that FirstLink call specialists were able to help people find resources for in 2016. 
Rent Payment Assistance
Food Pantries
Electric Service Payment Assistance

14. Unmet Needs
Some of the reasons for unmet needs include financial assistance isn’t currently available, no program exists to meet the need, caller is ineligible for the services, caller refuses the referral, or for a variety of other reasons. 
Our top three unmet needs for 2016 are below.
Rent Payment Assistance
Gas money
Electric Service Payment Assistance

15. Offering a Helping Hand
When someone who you know has run out of places to turn, tell them to dial or (SEEK)
Every ten minutes FirstLink answers a phone call from someone in North Dakota or Clay County, Minnesota who needs our help
We listen, we support,
we connect.

16. Contract Agencies
FirstLink contracts with several crisis agencies answering their calls after business hours.
FirstLink screens each call for crisis intervention needs, providing listening/support or information/referral according to individual contracts.

17. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
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

18. Suicide Follow-Up Program
A voluntary program offered to individuals needing additional support.
Callers who dial our Helpline and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL)
Patients being discharged from select clinics and hospitals in North Dakota
Part of a research project with Columbia University to evaluate effectiveness of suicide follow-up calls.
Main goals:
Offer support and resources
Create a safety plan
Check to see if person is utilizing services

19. 2016 Statistics Total ICS Calls: 49,353 Total Resources Given: 18,051
Calls related to suicide: 2,512
1150 Suicide Follow-up Calls made in 2016
Contacted Dispatch/Law Enforcement : 62 

20. Call Types

21. Suicide Related Calls

22. 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.
On average 2,500 local students participate each year

23. Suicide Alertness Training
SafeTALK
3-Hour Suicide Alertness training developed by LivingWorks, Inc.
Helps people identify those who have thoughts of suicide
Teaches participants to connect a person with thoughts of suicide to a suicide first aid intervention caregiver.

24. Suicide Intervention Training
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
A 2-day workshop developed by LivingWorks, Inc.
Trains any community member to become a more effective suicide first-aid caregiver.
Used nationwide by all National Suicide Prevention Lifeline centers and internationally by many mental health and government organizations.

25. Mental Health First Aid
MHFA is an 8- Hour, evidence-based training program committed to empowering individuals to identify, understand and respond to those in mental health and substance abuse crises. 
Mental Health First Aid has been shown to increase mental health literacy and decrease the stigma of mental illness among participants.
FirstLink offers Adult MHFA and Youth MHFA for adults that frequently interact with youth.

26. Specialized Training Active Listening Community Resources
FirstLink offers specialized trainings on a number of different topics ranging in length from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Active Listening
Community Resources
Self-care and Resilience
Crisis Intervention
Suicide Grief
Suicide Awareness and Intervention
Noteworthy Customers

27. Number of community trainings: 194
Training Statistics
Presentations 
Participants: 5,046 
Number of community trainings: 194

28. Giving Tree of Hope/ Toys for Tots & Connection Fair
Offers assistance to those in need during the holiday season (children and adults with special needs)
Coordinates the collection and distribution of new donated holiday gifts to meet the needs of individuals in the Cass-Clay community
Provides volunteers with opportunities to serve

29. 2016 GTOH/T4T 13,962 gifts were collected
3,526 individuals received gifts within 1,474 families
472 gifts given to clients lacking transportation through agencies
23 agencies received the remaining gifts
63 businesses and churches throughout our community were Giving Tree of Hope sponsors
11 organizations were at our Connection Fair

30. 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
-Including Child Abduction Response Team (CART) tip line
Dissemination of information from authorities to community members

31. How We Can Help You
Save you time to allow you to focus on higher priority situations
- Provide information about resources
- Provide 24 hour emotional support
- Be a safety contact number
- De-escalate situations and reduce the need for emergency services
Available for trainings to help increase understanding about mental health and suicide

32. How You Can Help Us Utilize 2-1-1 and FirstLink Website
Educate others and refer to 2-1-1
- Distribute cards
Attend various trainings or events held by FirstLink
Update your agency’s information when appropriate
Stay connected with FirstLink by following us on social media

33. Questions or Comments? 24 Hour Helpline: 2-1-1 or 701-235-7335 (SEEK)
NSPL (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline):
(TALK)
Website:
Facebook:
Twitter: twitter.com/myfirstlink_org
Blog: myfirstlink.areavoices.com
Youtube:
Pinterest: pinterest.com/firstlink