Caring Contact Receives $15,000 Grant
Caring Contact, a local, award-winning, volunteer-staffed crisis hotline and listening community, recently announced it has been awarded a Major Grant in the amount of $15,000 from The Northfield Bank Foundation to support building hotline capacity for the launch of “988” in 2022.
Caring Contact was selected to receive the grant based on the current increase in crisis line call volume and the Federal approval of the 3-digit 988 crisis line. Since the start of 2021, Caring Contact has answered over 13,000 calls on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and local hotline. Over 1,000 of these calls were from teens aged 13 to young adults aged 24. Additionally, the change from 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number to a 3-digit number, like 911, will greatly increase the volume of calls to the agency. Beginning in July 2022The Northfield Bank Foundation Grant will assist Caring Contact’s efforts to continue responding to the increase in calls by supporting their strategy to add Listener capacity through increased and more accessible training and to prepare for the launching of 988.
“Answering more calls will result in increased connection to individuals experiencing mental health crises,” states Caring Contact’s Executive Director Mary Claire Givelber. “This increased connection means fewer suicide attempts, a healthier population and fewer people ending up in the already strained health system because of a suicide attempt or an unchecked mental health crisis. We are honored to have the support of The Northfield Bank Foundation as we support those currently in crisis and prepare for 988.”
Executive Director Maria Fuentes, The Northfield Bank Foundation said, “We extend our best wishes to Caring Contact and their continued success. We look forward to their accomplishments during the year. It is a pleasure to be a Caring Contact supporter.”
About Caring Contact
Caring Contact is a local, award-winning, volunteer-staffed crisis hotline and listening community serving central and northern New Jersey. As a member agency of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the International Council for Helplines, Caring Contact compassionately serves those in emotional distress and educates local communities about the power of personal connection. For more information, please visit caringcontact.org. If you, or someone you know, is in crisis, please call 800.273.8255.
