REACHOUT Crisis Hotline-St. Lawrence County
Karen Butler Easter, Executive Director, PO Box 5051, Potsdam,
(315)265-2422, reachout@reachouthotline.org

REACHOUT is a 24-hour, 7-day a week, crisis intervention, information and referral hotline. We handle 26,000 calls a year and help people who have all kinds of problems: loneliness, alcohol, mental illness, poverty, sexual difficulties, rape, domestic violence, suicide, family problems, drugs, etc. Our volunteers receive over 75 hours of training in crisis intervention, listening skills, problem-solving, information and referral.

REACHOUT is a confidential service dedicated to treating all callers, regardless of their situation, as human beings worthy of dignity and respect. We need caring, patient, intelligent volunteers who can stay calm in a crisis. We need people who are stable in their own lives who are ready to take on the emotional and intellectual challenge of becoming a REACHOUT volunteer. This does not mean we want all volunteers to be the same, or to hold exactly the same beliefs and opinions. REACHOUT volunteers are a diverse group; we all have different backgrounds, religions, lifestyles and interests.

Submitting a complete application is necessary before being selected to participate in the Training Weekend. This is a full weekend of workshops presented by local professionals and REACHOUT administrative staff on a variety of special topics. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory.

If you are accepted for further training after Training Weekend, you will be assigned one 5-hour shift or two 2 ½ hour weekly shifts, during which you will come to the REACHOUT office to work. Training includes reading and worksheets, as well as hands-on experience on the phones about 6-8 weeks after you start to train. Your training will be supervised by current REACHOUT volunteers, and usually takes 3-4 months to complete. You must plan to volunteer for at least two college semesters, and be in good academic standing as the training is very demanding. Volunteers need access to reliable transportation.

Call (315)265-2422 for an application or visit http://www.reachouthotline.org/apply/ for an aplication. Training this fall will occur late Sept. and/or early Oct.. REACHOUT only accepts new applicants at the beginning of fall & spring semesters.

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