I N T H I S I S S U E

r E f l E c T I o N S o N 2010

T H E N E W S L E T T E R F O R C R I S I S S E R V I C E SV O L U M E 2 • I S S U E 3 • F A L L 2 0 1 0

Whatadifferencetenmonthsmake!As2010openedlastJanuary,CrisisServiceswasfacingourlargestdeficitinour42yearhistory.Wewerelookingattheprospectoflayoffs,programcuts,andageneral“downsizing”ofCrisisServices.

Ontopofthatverygrimeconomicforecast,ourserviceswererunninginhigherdemandthantheyhadeverbeen!Asofthiswriting,allofourprogramshaveshownasteady20%increaseoverlastyearatthistime.Whatanimpossiblesituation–wewereneededmorethanwe’veeverbeenneeded, inacommunity thathasbeenespeciallyhardhitby thisglobalrecession,yetwehadlessmoneytotrytomakethishappen!!

Well,elevenmonthsintothisverypivotalyearforCrisisServicesandwearethrilledtoreport that,notonlyhaveweweatheredthefinancialstorm,butwemanagedtogarnersomeawardsandcommendationsalongtheway.Withacombinationofcost-cuttingmovesincludingstaffreductions,prudentfiscalmanagement,alongwithreallocatingmanagementdutiesandadvocatingformorefunding,wewillbeendingtheyearinamuchstrongerfiscalpositionthanwasoriginallyforecastbackinJanuary.Althoughwecancatchourbreathforabit,wearealreadyanticipatingmajorchallengesin2011.However,wetakecomfortin,andareencouragedby,thecontinuedlife-changingimpactthatourworkprovidesourclientseveryday.Theproofofthatliesintherecognitionwe’verecentlyreceivedbyourpeers,whichhelpstosupportthestaffandvolunteersduringthesechallengingtimes.

•InMay of 2010, Crisis Serviceswas the sole recipient of the ‘Outstanding Mental Health Agency Award’fromtheWNYChapteroftheAmericanFoundationforSuicidePrevention.

•In October of this year, the Rape CrisisAdvisory Committee, led by theAdvocateProgramofCrisisServices,wasawardedthe‘Outstanding Professional Group Award’bytheLeeGrossAnthoneChildAdvocacyCenterforaconferenceon‘SexualAbuseandOurSchools’thatwasattendedbydozensofschooladministratorsfromalloverWNY.

•Also in October, Crisis Services was honored by the Greater Buffalo CounselingCenters,Inc.withtheir‘Helping Hands Award’.

•John Bell, anAdvocate Program casemanager, was honored by the Family JusticeCenterwiththe‘Susan Still Award’,attheirannualeventinOctober.Thisawardgoestosomeonewhohasdemonstrateduncommoncourage,tenacity,andcompassionoveralifetimeofservicetothosevictimizedbydomesticviolence.

•And,earlierthismonth,JessicaPirro,ourAssociateDirector,wasnamedoneofBusinessFirst’s‘Forty Under 40’forherprofessionalsuccessandcommunityinvolvement.

Inadditiontotheseprogramandindividualaccomplishments,wereceivedagency-changingnewsinearlySeptember,whentheNYSOfficeforthePreventionofDomesticViolence(OPDV)announcedthatCrisisServiceswaschosentotakeovermanagementofthestate’smultilingualDomesticandSexualViolenceHotline.Withverylittleleadtime,CrisisServiceswasabletogolivewiththisnewprogramonSeptember30,2010,hiringeightfull-andpart-timebilingualhotlinecounselorsandasupervisor.

Whilewewrapup2010fullofthehopethatcomeswiththerecognitionfromourpeers,2011 looms as daunting as 2010.With state and county funding still in question, wearegearingupforanotheryearofeconomicbattering.Butwithourservicesneedednowmorethaneverbefore,failureisnotanoption.Pleaseconsidersendinginagifttodaytoshowyour support for themanyprogramsprovidedbyCrisis Services, 24hours aday,7daysweek.

4th ANNUAl

crISIS SErVIcES cHoSEN for NYS DoMESTIc AND

SEXUAl VIolENcE HoTlINE

SUIcIDE PrEVENTIoN

WEEK

42

www.crisisservices.org

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A M E S S A g E f r o M T H E E X E c U T I V E D I r E c To r

Embracing Success and Planning For Uncertainty

Asweapproachedtheproductionofthislatestnewsletter,webrieflystruggledforatheme.Wethenrealizedthattheanswerexistedimmediatelyunderournose.Theanswercouldbe found inour successasagroup, successasanagency,andourindividualsuccessesinworkingwithourclients!Indeed,itissometimeseasier towriteabout thewrongs thathavebeendoneagainstourclientsandtheextremechallengeswehaveasanorganizationinhelpingpeoplefindanswerstotheirlifeproblems.Itcanallseemsooverwhelming,butenergizingatthesametime.But,whenwehavereasonstocelebratethegoodthingsthatwedoasanorganization,thewordscansometimesbeslowindeveloping.

As it should be, although not necessarily right, we are short in our egodevelopmentandlonginourethictodogoodworkforpeoplewithurgentneeds.With that said,we thought this newsletter should shed light on therecognitionsandawardsthatCrisisServiceshasreceivedthisyear.Itisironictobecelebratingoursuccessesinayearinwhichthefinancialchallengehasneverbeengreaterand theneedsofourclientsgreateryet.Yet, it isvitallyimportant to our organization’s mental health to embrace the positiveoutcomes thatwehelppeople toachieve.Without thisorganization,manymorepeoplewouldbeleadinglivesoflesserqualityandperhapslivesdominatedbyworryandfear.So,yes,wehavereceivedsomeniceawardsforourcollectiveeffortwithnonegreaterthantheawardoftheStatewideHotlineProjectforDomesticViolenceandSexualAssault.Ourpeerswouldnotgiveussuchanimportant“lifesaving”projectunlesstheytrulybelievedourskillswereequaltothetask.ItiswithheartfeltappreciationthatIrecognizeandcelebratewiththemanagementandstaffofCrisisServicesforthismostsignificantrecognition.Andyes,itwillmeanmorework,butwhombettertodotheworkfornotonlyBuffaloandErieCounty,butforallofNewYorkState!

Lastly, we hope that 2010’s successes will give us the momentum toaddresstheuncertaintiesof2011.WiththesocialandpoliticalsceneinErieCountymirroringtheangerandfrustrationofmillionsaroundthecountry,itisexpectedthat2011willbesimilarto2010.Fortunately,wewillhavethelessons and the successes of this past year to help us in addressing theproblemsforecastedforourimmediatefuture.Whenallissaidanddone,wewill,aswehavefor42years,continuetoprovide24/7servicestothoseinneedinourcommunity.

DouglasB.Fabian,ExecutiveDirector

Douglas B. Fabian, Executive Director

We will

continue to

provide 24/7

services to

those in need

in our

community.

www.crisisservices.org

CrisisServicespresentedtheir4thannualMENWHOCOOKevent,anightoffood,funandawarenessonTuesdayOct.5th,2010attheD’YouvilleCollegeCenter.Guestsenjoyedtastingthemanyculinarydelightspreparedbysevenarearestaurantsandninecelebritychefs, featuringsuchdelicaciesasawholeroastedpig,headandall,MooseMeatChili,ChickenWingChowder,MarylandCrabSoupandBananaBamboozler!!

$30,000was raised to support the crucialwork of the programs of Crisis Services.During theevening,agencystaffandvolunteerswerehonoredfor theiryearsofservicetotheagency.TheMichaelB.CoppockAward,awardedinthememoryofalovingstaffmemberofCrisisServices,wenttoJohnBell,acaseworkerfromtheAdvocateProgram.AlsorecognizedforourCommunityPartnerofExcellenceAwardsweretheCheektowagaPoliceDepartmentandKaleidaHealthEmergencyServices.

DrewCerza,Buffalo’sown‘ChickenWingKing’servedasemceefortheevent

Thankstoallofouramazingrestaurantsandcelebritychefsthatmadeitallpossible!

4TH ANNUAl MEN WHo cooK EVENT

M E N W H o c o o K 2010 E V E N T S P o N S o r S

TOP CHEF SPONSOR

SILVER PLATE SPONSORM&TBankHodgsonRussLLPPhillipsLytleD’YouvilleCollegeKoryMemorialGolfTournament

BRONZE PLATE FirstNiagaraBankMaplegateAnesthesiologyFlyingBisonBrewingCompanyPremierWinesUniversityEmergencyMedicalServicesProgressiveDirectMarketingFDRMedicalServicesPC

HONORARY CHEFSWegmansUB/MDPhysiciansGroupRichProductsMedFirstUrgentCareCWALocal1122

Thank you to all of our generous sponsors for their support in making the 4th annual Men Who Cook a huge success!

rESTAUrANTS:TheLeftBankIlioDiPaolo’sUlrich’sRestaurantHarry’sHarbourPlaceJPBullfeathersRedlinskiMeatsAuntieRoseCookies

cElEBrITY cHEfS:TomRagan,Lt.DavidMann,TimHerzog,OswaldoMestre,Jr.,BrianBrault,JeffreyHirschfelt,JimCasion,DrewCerza,RyanCasullo,DavidRodriguez,JeremyWhite,Hon.JohnO’Donnell&Hon.JohnMichalski

MIcHAEl B. coPPocK EXEMPlArY SErVIcE AWArD

NoMINEESSue Parker-Prusiecki–CrisisCounselingSpecialistJohn Bell–AdvocateHotlineCaseManagerChandra Whitefield –AdvocateFamilyViolence

CaseManager2010 Winner: John Bell

YEArS of SErVIcE AWArDS To STAff AND VolUNTEErS

5 YEArSLisa McNeil–CrisisCounselingProgramCoordinatorGeorgina Volanis–OutreachCounselorKevin Ward–OutreachCounselorMeridith Cohen–AdvocateVolunteer&CCPStaff

10 YEArS Kristy D’Angelo–ClinicalStaffDevelopmentCoordinator

Chandra Whitrefield (l) and Susan Parker-Prusiecki watch Linda Coppock (r) present John Bell with the Michael B. Coppock

Exemplary Service Award.

T H E N E W S L E T T E R F O R C R I S I S S E R V I C E S

V O L U M E 2 • I S S U E 3 • F A L L 2 0 1 0

W H Y I c o o K .. .ByJimCasion,CEO,BakerVictoryServices

BakerVictoryServices isan agency that has evolved beginning in 1851 and it continues to evolve today. Our mission talks aboutfostering the highest quality of life achievementby partnering with children and their familiesto provide a diverse array of health and socialhumanservices.Putting it in its simplest form,ourgoalistocreatehopeinpeoples’livesandtobringthathopetofruition.Wehaveastaffofover1,300committed employees providing a diverse array ofservices in the areas of residential developmentaldisabilities, residential psychiatric and behavioralhealth.We operate three school-age special educa-tionprograms throughout thecommunity.Wepro-vide out patient, preventive services, psychiatric andclinical services, wraparound and B2H program-ming, very large early intervention programs forindividuals from 18 months through school aged,evaluationandsupportservices,daycareservices,jobtrainingprogramsandhospitalbasedmaternalearlyintervention.Mostrecently,theagencyhasmadeacommitment to trauma sensitive care by pursuingaccreditationasasanctuarycertifiedprogram.

OneofmyfirstgraduateschoolexperienceswasanassignmentatCrisisServicesworkingbothonthephonesandwiththecommunityinterventionprogram.Asaresultofthatexperience,Ihavealwayshadaspecial feeling for the agency and the program. Ibecame involved inMenWhoCook the very firstyearandhaveparticipatediniteveryyearsince.Itisanenjoyable,funeventwithlotsofstaffrecognitionawardsandawonderfulspiritofcamaraderie.ManyoftheCrisisServicesstaffwereinvolvedwithBakerVictorywhenwepulled together a traumaconfer-enceinMarchof2010.WhatIexperiencedwasatremendouslycommittedstaff,wholovetheirworkandarecommittedtopeopleatthemostvulnerablepointsintheirlife.Thisisacriticalandverynecessaryserviceforourcommunity.

Given the economic times, all non-for-profitagenciesarefacinghugefinancialchallenges.BakerVictory,CrisisServicesandmanyotherwell-deservingnon-profits find themselves in a critical situationwithveryharddecisions tomakeandnota lotofoptions.Wemustremaincommittedtoourmissions,clientsweserve,andthecommunitywelivein.Thesedifficulttimesrelymorethaneveronourprograms.Wemust remain committed to persevere in thesevery challenging times and be ready to assist ourcommunityaswefacethesechallenges.

Ingredients:1lb.lumpbluecrabmeat(mid-atlantic)228-oz.canscrushedtomatoes1quarttomatojuice3cupswater3largepotatoes,peeledanddiced1smallonion,chopped124-ozbagfrozen“soupmix”vegetables1tbs.brownsugar1tbs.oliveoil5-7tbs.J.O.No.1BrandSeafoodSeasoning(orOldBaySeasoning)saltfresh-groundpepper

Directions:1.Heatoilovermediumheatinalargestockpot.Adddicedonionsandsautéuntilonionsareclear.

2.Pourintomatojuice,water,soupmixvegetables,andpotatoes.Onhighheat,bringsouptoaboil.Reduceheattomediumandcontinuecookinguntilvegetablesareverytender(about45minutes).

3.Removesoupfromheatand,usingapotatomasherorahandmixer,slightlymashthevegetablesinthebroth.Thesoupshouldstaychunky.

4.Addtomatoestosoup.Addbrownsugarandseasoning.Bringtoaboil,reduceheattomedium.

5.Allowsouptosimmerforatleast2hours.Anhourbeforeserving,stirincrabmeat,andcontinuetosimmer.Addsaltandfresh-groundpeppertotaste.

lT. DAVID MANN’S MArYlAND crAB SoUP

Following the above, the soup will be mildly spicy. Add seasoning to increase the heat.Lt. David Mann (r) with Drew Cerza.

S U I c I D E P r E V E N T I o N W E E K

www.crisisservices.org

The following Saturday, September 18th, 2010 theWNY Chapter of the American Foundation for SuicidePrevention (AFSP)held their4thannualBuffalo ‘OutoftheDarknessWalk’ atDelaware Park. LisaMcNeil, thecoordinator of the 24-hour Hotline at Crisis Services,servedasCo-Chairforthewalk.Over$75,000wasraisedbyover1000walkers,morethandoublingthenumberofwalkersandmoneyraisedatlastyear’swalk!Allproceedsgo to AFSP’s vital research and education programs topreventsuicideandsavelives,increaseawarenessaboutdepressionandsuicideandassistsurvivorsofsuicideloss.

crISIS SErVIcES cHoSEN AS THE NEW YorK STATE DoMESTIc VIolENcE AND SEXUAl VIolENcE HoTlINE

After a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP)process,CrisisServiceswaschosenbytheNewYorkStateOffice for thePreventionofDomesticViolence(OPDV) to provide the state with a multi-lingualDomesticandSexualViolenceHotline.

CrisisServicesalreadyservesastheDesignatedRapeCrisis Center and a NYS-Approved Non-ResidentialDomesticViolenceProvider for our community.ThisawardallowsCrisisServicestheopportunitytoprovidetheirexpertiseandqualityservicestothoseimpactedbydomesticviolenceandsexualviolencethroughoutallofNewYorkState.

“This award acknowledges the excellent workCrisisServiceshasbeenprovidingforoverfortyyearsto those in need in our own community. Our solidcrisis response, hotline services and programinfrastructurepositionedustobeselectedforthisstatehotline”,statesDouglasFabian,ExecutiveDirectorofCrisisServices.

“Weareconfident thatCrisisServiceswillprovidecomprehensive, compassionate, culturally-competent

andeffectiveservicesfordomesticviolenceandsexualassault victims and their advocates across the state,andlookforward toworkingwith them”,statesAmyBarasch,OPDVExecutiveDirector.

Withtheannouncementcominginmid-August,andthestartdateofSeptember30,2010,timewasoftheessence in getting the hotline up and running. Fourfull - timeandthreepart-timebilingualstaffhadtobehiredandtrained,alongwithasupervisingcounselorfortheprogram.

24-hour hotline services began September 30,2010.Duringthefirstmonthofoperation,1,356callswere answered. Of these calls, 1,301 were relatedto domestic violence and 55were related to sexualassault/rape. Additionally, 305 of all calls wereSpanishspeakers.

Formoreinformationandupdatesontheprogram’s implementation,gotowww.crisisservices.org

OnSeptember10,2010,MayorByronW.BrownpresentedtheCrisisCounselingProgram(24-hourhotline)witha“CityofBuffaloExecutiveChamberProclamation”inhonorofSuicidePreventionWeek.CrisisServicesrepresentatives alongwith representatives from theAmerican Foundation for Suicide Prevention, theNYSOfficeofMentalHealth,andtheVeteran’sAssociationwereamongthoseinattendanceduringtheMayor’spresentation.Theproclamationrecognizessuicideasanational,state,andlocalpublichealthproblemanddeclaressuicidepreventionapriorityinourcommunityandhighlightstheimportanceofthe24-hourhotlineatCrisisServicesandapplaudsboththeprogramstaffandvolunteersfortheirtirelessefforts.

Crisis Services was honored by Mayor Brown with a proclamation recognizing our efforts in Suicide Prevention.

2969 Main Street

Buffalo, NY 14214-1003

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Your gift to Crisis Services today can help to keep the programs of Crisis Services strong and healthy in 2011.See ‘Reflections on 2010’ on the front page.

oUr MISSIoNCrisis Services is dedicated to promoting the health,

safety, and well being of the community through prevention, education, immediate intervention and

access to community wide resources 24 hours a day.

Make a donation today in support of Crisis Services and those who depend on our critical services.

Remember a friend, loved one or family member for a birthday, anniversary or special celebration or to offer a meaningful expression of one’s sympathy, love and respect at the time of death with a gift to the Crisis Services Foundation. Your gift today can help Crisis Services continue to provide its excellent services and programs to individuals in need in our community, as it has since 1968. Treating and assisting people in emotional crisis through a variety of therapeutic services (24 hour hotline, suicide prevention, homelessness, rape and domestic violence, and mental health and trauma) need your ongoing generous support. Enclosed in this newsletter is a convenient envelope for your use, or make a donation online by visiting our secure website at:

www.crisisservices.organd charge your gift to MasterCard, Visa, or American Express.

TrIBUTE gIfTS To crISIS SErVIcES