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Help Hotline answered 196,828 calls for help in 2014
YOUNGSTOWN
“We help the Valley” is the theme of Help Hotline Crisis Center’s fundraising campaign.
Help Hotline’s mission is to provide crisis intervention, suicide prevention and intervention, referrals, support services and counseling services to people experiencing mental health-related problems.
More simply, said Vince Brancaccio, Help Hotline chief executive officer, “We are the safety net that gently catches those who are in crisis ... those who are in need.”
Even though Help Hotline answered 196,828 telephone calls in 2014 from people seeking information, including 25 calls a day from individuals contemplating suicide, help or just someone to listen to them, it is far more than a telephone referral hub, Brancaccio said.
State and federal budget cuts have had a detrimental effect on funding for these vital services, Brancaccio said.
Traditionally a one-shot annual fundraising effort, Help Hotline’s financial campaign has evolved into a year-round effort.
“Key funding sources, such as the Mental Health and Recovery Boards of Mahoning and Trumbull counties and the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, have experienced cuts in state and federal funding, which in turn lead to the reduction in allocations to the agencies they fund,” Brancaccio said.
At the same time as funding has been flat or decreased, demand for services and expenses have increased, as evidenced by the number of calls received at the call center, making it necessary to look to the community for additional financial help, he said.
Also, Brancaccio said the agency is taking steps to become more efficient.
For example, Help Hotline expects to save $3,000 to $6,000 on paper this year. The increasing cost of employee health insurance, however, needs to be addressed, he said.
“We are revisiting contracts with vendors of supplies and services. We have to look constantly at getting the best deals,” he said.
Also, Brancaccio said, Help Hotline has increased fees for some of the services it provides to other social-service agencies. It also provides services many other agencies don’t provide that are not Medicaid reimbursable.
He said his agency is always looking for more opportunities to increase revenue, he said.
For instance, Help Hotline recently received a $200,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to increase services to the homeless.
Also, Brancaccio said the agency has increased its efforts to get grants from area foundations. Of course, he said, “Everybody is chasing those dollars. It is very competitive.”
According to Help Hotline’s 2013-14 annual report, 2014 program expenses totaled about $2,103,244 and total income was $2,145, 371. Among major expenditures were $726,447 to operate the call center and $254,281 in administration costs.
Income sources include state grants and levies, about $1.1 million; federal grants, $183,753; United Way, $73,086; contract income, $384,518; other revenues, $86,017; and other grants, $149,514.
Individuals and organizations who donate to Help Hotline will be recognized in the agency’s annual report.
Here is how to donate. For tax-deductible gifts of $100 or more, checks should be made payable to The Youngstown Foundation with Help Hotline on the memo line. By doing this, the Youngstown Foundation will add an additional 5 percent to the contribution.
For tax-deductible gifts less than $100, make checks payable to Help Hotline Crisis Center. All checks should be sent to Help Hotline Crisis Center, P.O. Box 46, Youngstown, OH 44501-0046.
Donations also may be made online by visiting www.help-hotline.org. Look for the “Donate” prompt. Help Hotline is a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency.