 
Senate Resolution No. 3970
 
BY: Senator KENNEDY
 
        COMMEMORATING   the  50th  Anniversary  of  Crisis
        Services
 
  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to commend  those
illustrious  organizations  of  the  State  of  New York whose focus and
intent have made a substantial impact on the quality of  life  in  their
communities; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Crisis Services; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Suicide  Prevention  and  Crisis  Service,  Inc. began its
operations in November of 1968, after two years  of  strategic  planning
conducted  by  stakeholders  from  the  Mental  Health  Association, the
Psychological Association of WNY, the Community Welfare Council, and the
Erie County Department of Mental Health; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Although  this  vital  organization  began  as  a  suicide
prevention  hotline,  Crisis  Services  now assists with other traumatic
events such as domestic violence, rape crisis calls,  elder  abuse,  and
general support; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Crisis  Services is a truly innovative unit which explores
new methods of treating people in emotional crisis,  providing  training
and education programs for workers, and building a comprehensive body of
research on best practices for crisis support; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  most comprehensive crisis center in Upstate New York,
Crisis  Services  of  Erie  County  offers  essential  services  to  the
community including a 24 hour hotline, emergency mobile outreach, trauma
response, and the advocate program; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Under the able leadership of its CEO Jessica Pirro, Crisis
Services hosted and organized a 26-episode podcast series which outlines
how crisis services  interacts  with  issues  in  the  community;  these
programs  are  provided by both full and part-time staff, as well as the
support of 75 professionally trained volunteers; and
 
  WHEREAS, In 2017, Crisis  Services'  staff  members  and  volunteers
tirelessly  assisted  98,834 individuals in crisis through their various
hotlines and crisis response services; and
 
  WHEREAS, Today,  Crisis  Services  manages  the  Suicide  Prevention
Coalition  for  Erie  County  and is one of the founding partners of the
Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition, an organization working  to  end  the
stigma surrounding mental illness; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The success of Crisis Services is in direct correlation to
the efforts of its staff  and  volunteers,  whose  involvement  is,  and
always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled
enthusiasm,   and  an  uncompromising  standard  of  excellence  in  all
endeavors on behalf of the organization and the community it serves; and
 
 
  WHEREAS,  This  auspicious occasion presents an opportunity for this
Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to Crisis Services; and
 
  WHEREAS, It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that  when
individuals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought  to  our  attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore be it
 
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Crisis Services; and be it further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Crisis Services, Buffalo, New York.
Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Crisis Services

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