The Alachua County Crisis Center provides services for people in Alachua County who are experiencing crisis situations.
Contact: Janet Greene, (352) 264-6779, jgreene@alachuacounty.us
Address: 218 SE 24th Street, Gainesville, FL 32641
Who they are: The mission statement of the Alachua County Crisis Center is: “To respond to every request and to participate in the solution of any human problem whenever and wherever it occurs.”
What they do: The Alachua County Crisis Center provides services for people in Alachua County who are experiencing crisis situations.
What you can do to help:
Crisis Line
This is a “telephone crisis intervention and counseling service” that runs 24 hours a day at the Alachua County Crisis Center. Volunteers complete a 60 hour training program and work under the staff’s supervision. Volunteer counselors must respond to callers in a caring, empathetic manner.
Care Team
This is an “emergency mobile outreach team” made up of a group of experienced volunteers. They are sent out by request of family/friends, mental health providers, and law enforcement when it becomes essential to make face-to-face contact with someone experiencing a crisis.
Survivors of Suicide
The Survivors of Suicide Support Group meets monthly to help people who have been impacted by a loved one’s suicide death. Professional staff, survivors, and volunteers help run these group meetings.
Community Education
The Alachua County Crisis Center conducts lectures, workshops, and educational programs throughout the community. Workshops.
Steps To Becoming a Crisis Center Volunteer
1. Submit a Volunteer Application.
2. Attend a Training Program. (The 6-week Training Programs are usually held 3 times each year.)
3. Schedule a 4-hour shift each week for a minimum of 6 months (24-shift commitment).
Volunteers Must:
–Be 20+ years old (preferred).
–Have not made a suicide attempt, have not had a major crisis in his/her life, or have not been a client of the Crisis Center in the last 6 months before starting the training.
–Have a sincere willingness and desire to help people.
–Complete the Alachua County Crisis Center phone training, supervised shifts, and observation shifts.
–Sign the Confidentiality Agreement.
–Attend 3 In-Service sessions each year.
–Follow the Code of Ethics of the Alachua County Crisis Center.
–Follow Scheduling procedures and Phone Room procedures.