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they assist and connecting them to appropriate sources of assistance to help stabilize their situation in the long-term. In
<br />addition, through utilizing nonjudgmental, active listening and evidence -based crisis de-escalation techniques, 211's
<br />Resource Center Specialists provide suicide prevention services that save lives, every single day. Mental health is a
<br />critical component of personal and community health, and this project will ensure that the residents of Palm Beach and
<br />Martin Counties always have somewhere to turn to, 24/7, to receive completely free and confidential mental health
<br />support for every crisis they may experience.
<br />s. uo tnese programs utuize volunteers:I it yes, please bnetly crescnbe.
<br />211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast utilizes volunteers within nearly every program and department of our organization, and
<br />we greatly appreciate the hard -work of our dedicated volunteers towards achieving our mission. Volunteers can benefit
<br />our agency through light administrative tasks that free up staff time for more essential work, by representing 211 at
<br />community outreach events, and by assisting within our various inhouse programs. Our Sunshine Telephone
<br />Reassurance Program is nearly entirely run by volunteers who make over 500 calls a day to lonely and isolated seniors
<br />in our service area, and is a true testament to the positive impact these volunteers have on our agency. Extremely
<br />dedicated volunteers who are willing to undergo the intense, 100+ hour training program, are then able to work within our
<br />24-hour Resource Center and handle requests for help from individuals in crisis. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19
<br />pandemic and the need for our agency to continue to follow proper CDC Guidelines within our facility, we have had to put
<br />a pause on the majority of volunteer activities. As our organization has transitioned to remote -work, we have been able
<br />to slowly bring volunteers who are able to assist remotely back onto our team. It is our hope that as it becomes safe to
<br />do so, we can welcome back all of our wonderful volunteers, in addition to bringing in more individuals who would like to
<br />get involved with 211.
<br />i. uescn tion or me count wiae purpose the rungs wm oe usea tor.
<br />The 211 Helpline receives a wide base of funding across the Treasure Coast from a variety of sources, in order to
<br />ensure that we can continue to provide our critical services to these communities. In the Treasure Coast, the 211
<br />Helpline is collaboratively funded by four United Ways, one Community Chest, two Children's Services Councils, the
<br />Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network (State Department of Children and Families), and three County
<br />Commissions (Indian River County, Martin County, and St. Lucie County). In addition, we receive funding from
<br />individual foundations, private contributions, and fundraising proceeds. All of this financial support goes directly into the
<br />organization through personnel, benefits, and operating expenses related to the 24-hour operation of the Treasure
<br />Coast Resource Center. The generous funding that is received from Indian River County has previously been, and will
<br />continue to be, directed toward the operations of our Treasure Coast Resource Center and to partially fund the salary
<br />and benefits of one full-time Resource Center Specialist. We are requesting an increase since we must build capacity
<br />due to the sharp increase in volume the 988 rollout is estimated to bring to our resource center.
<br />We would also like to take this opportunity to further highlight some of the changes to our operations expected within
<br />the next year. In July 2022 the nationwide 3 -digit dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) will
<br />be launched. 211 is the sole certified crisis center for the Lifeline within our service region, and as such all calls to the
<br />Lifeline made from our region, including Indian River County, are routed to our Resource Center. Of the approximately
<br />100,000 requests for help the 211 HelpLine receives from across our service region on an annual basis, over 10,000
<br />are people from our region calling the Lifeline for suicide -related concerns. The planned July 2022 rollout of the 9-8-8
<br />national Lifeline dialing code will continue to route all calls originating from our region to our 211 center. Along with the
<br />easy to remember number, news of 988 is estimated to bring sharp increases in the number of individuals reaching out
<br />for help. Based on data provided by Lifeline, they predict our region's volume of suicide calls will increase: at the low
<br />end to 48,271, a staggering 365% increase in year one. Their high-end projection suggests volume as high as 96,542,
<br />an 830% increase. These projections, coupled with the established increase in mental health needs, support the urgent
<br />need to make sure our team is prepared for this increased demand with additional support for staffing and technology
<br />infrastructure. If our 211 Center is unable to scale up appropriately to meet this demand, it means that many calls for
<br />help could go unanswered. When someone thinks their life does not matter and are considering taking their own life —
<br />seconds matter. It is imperative that the 211 Helpline have sufficient staffing to be ready for the rollout of the 988
<br />number in 2022. We are working diligently ahead of the implementation of 988 to ensure that we can expand our
<br />capacity to meet the demand for our services and that every Indian River County resident experiencing a mental health
<br />crisis has a place to turn for emergency emotional support and resources.
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