Long Island Crisis Center Inc

TO PROVIDE FREE, HIGH QUALITY, CONFIDENTIAL AND NON-JUDGMENTAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER LONG ISLANDERS AT CRITICAL TIMES IN THEIR LIVES.

PFY (FORMERLY PRIDE FOR YOUTH), WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1993 TO SERVE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND QUEER/QUESTIONING (LGBTQ+) INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILY MEMBERS ACROSS NASSAU, SUFFOLK, AND QUEENS. PFY DELIVERS A CADRE OF FREE SERVICES: INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND GROUP COUNSELING; WEEKLY SOCIAL SUPPORT GROUPS; SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDING HIV/STI TESTING AND LINKAGE TO TREATMENT; YOUTH LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES; CASE MANAGEMENT; AND THEIR LONGEST RUNNING PROGRAM - COFFEEHOUSE, A WEEKLY, FRIDAY EVENING DROP-IN CENTER FOR LGBTQ YOUTH AND THEIR STRAIGHT ALLIES.PFY IS A SERVICE AND AN ADVOCATE FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND QUESTIONING/QUEER (LGBTQ+) INDIVIDUALS ACROSS LONG ISLAND AND QUEENS. ITS MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND CULTURAL COMPETENCY OF LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS THROUGH EDUCATION, SUPPORT, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. IN 2023, 1,103 LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS BENEFITTED FROM SOCIAL PROGRAMMING, SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT, HIV AND STI TESTING AND CONNECTION TO TREATMENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. FREE HIV AND SYPHILIS TESTING IS OFFERED BOTH ON-SITE AND VIA COMMUNITY-BASED TESTING THROUGH THE USE OF THE AGENCYS TESTING VEHICLES. PFY STAFF DIAGNOSED 22 NEW HIV CASES, THE HIGHEST NUMBER IN THE AGENCYS HISTORY. LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS WILL EXPERIENCE AN INCREASE IN SELF-ESTEEM:LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS REPORT FEELING LOW SELF-ESTEEM MORE SO THAN THEIR STRAIGHT AND CISGENDER COUNTERPARTS DUE TO A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN EXPLORING THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND/OR GENDER IDENTITY WITHIN A SOCIETY IN WHICH THEY DO NOT FEEL SUPPORTED AND AFFIRMED. AS A RESULT, MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIORS SUCH AS SUICIDE, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SELF-ISOLATION, AND DRUG/ALCOHOL ABUSE ARE MORE LIKELY TO MANIFEST. PFY PROGRAMS INCREASE THE SELF-ESTEEM OF ATTENDEES BY GIVING LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO "BE THEMSELVES AND CONNECT WITH PEERS, EMPOWERING THEM TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR OWN NEEDS. PRIDE FOR PARENTS IS A SUPPORT GROUP OFFERED FOR PARENTS AND ADULT FAMILY MEMBERS OF LGBTQ+ YOUTH TO TEACH THEM HOW TO SUPPORT THEIR LGBTQ+ LOVED ONES BEST AND HELPS TO BOOST THEIR SELF-ESTEEM. 2023 CLIENT SATISFACTION SURVEYS CONTINUED TO SHOW THAT PFY POSITIVELY IMPACTS INCREASING SELF-ESTEEM. IN PARTICULAR, 97.5% PERCENT OF CLIENTS SURVEYED (+9.5%) REPORTED THAT PFY'S PROGRAMS HELPED BOOST THEIR SELF-ESTEEM.ADDITIONALLY, CLIENTS PROVIDED WRITTEN FEEDBACK WITHIN THIS YEAR'S SATISFACTION SURVEYS, WHICH INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:"I JUST LIKE THE TOGETHERNESS ?""I FEEL SAFE AND ACCEPTED [HERE].""I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING PFY HAS DONE FOR ME. FRIENDS, FOOD, CONVERSATION, A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. I AM WHOLE HERE." PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WILL IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LIVING WITH HIV AND/OR SYPHILIS AND THOSE WHO ARE NEWLY DIAGNOSED AND LINK THEM TO MEDICAL CARE AND TREATMENT: IN 2023, PFY CONTINUED TO OBSERVE SIGNIFICANT ACCESS BARRIERS IN THE FORM OF TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, AND STIGMA, WHICH PREVENTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM ACCESSING SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES. PFYS COMMERCIAL MOBILE MEDICAL CLINIC VEHICLE FEATURES TWO MEDICAL OFFICES AND A WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE LIFT. THIS MOBILE CLINIC HELPS BRIDGE THE GAP AND INCREASE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF LGBTQ+ RESPONSIVE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR SUFFOLK COUNTY'S MOST ISOLATED LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IN 2023, PFY'S CASE MANAGERS PROVIDED 1,958 CASE MANAGEMENT SESSIONS. THIS CLIENT-CENTERED, STRENGTHS-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IS THE PFYS MOST ROBUST AND FASTEST-GROWING PROGRAM. TOTAL COMMUNITY ED ATTENDEES IN 2023: 9,346UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION3439UNDERSTANDING GENDER 2437ALLYSHIP IN ACTION359LGBTQ+ CULTURAL RELEVANCY TRAININGS FOR PROFESSIONALS 3,111

LONG ISLAND CRISIS CENTER PROVIDES 24/7, 365 DAYS-A-YEAR SUICIDE PREVENTION AND CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR LONG ISLAND RESIDENTS. IN ITS FIFTY-THREE YEARS LICC HAS GROWN FROM ONE HOTLINE TO SIX HOTLINES INCLUDING NASSAU COUNTYS DESIGNATED 988 CRISIS LIFELINE - AND AN ON-LINE CHAT PROGRAM. THE CRISIS HOTLINES ARE STAFFED BY A COMBINATION OF VOLUNTEER AND PAID COUNSELORS WHO UNDERGO OVER SIX MONTHS OF INTENSIVE TRAINING. IN 2023, THEY RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 21,000 CALLS/CHATS. SINCE 2019 LICC ALSO ANSWERS THE NY STATE HIV HOTLINE, PROVIDING CONFIDENTIAL HIV, STI AND HEPATITIS C EDUCATION, RISK-REDUCTION INFORMATION AND REFERRALS FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL NEW YORK STATE RESIDENTS. IN 2023, 1,955 CALLS WERE RECEIVED ON THIS HOTLINE.THE CRISIS CENTER OPERATES MULTIPLE HOTLINE SERVICES THAT ARE ACCESSED BY PHONE OR OUR MOBILE-FRIENDLY ONLINE COUNSELING PLATFORM, CHATLIVE LONG ISLAND. THESE SERVICES ARE A LIFELINE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS STRUGGLING WITH SUICIDAL IDEATION, FAMILY CRISIS, SUBSTANCE USE AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS. LICC UPDATED ITS PHONE SYSTEM IN 2023, ALLOWING THE HOURS OF CHATLIVE LONG ISLAND TO EXPAND TO SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FROM 7AM TO 11PM. IN 2023, LICCS CRISIS HOTLINES AND CHAT SERVED 21,042 INDIVIDUALS. 988 IN 2023THE CRISIS CENTER IS NASSAU COUNTYS DESIGNATED 988 CENTER. 988 IS THE NEW, THREE-DIGIT NUMBER FOR THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE AND IS A DIRECT CONNECTION TO CARING SUPPORT FOR ANYONE IN MENTAL HEALTH DISTRESS. IN 2023, LICC COUNSELORS RECEIVED 8,807 CALLS ON 988, WITH AN AVERAGE ANSWER RATE OF 90%. SUICIDE LETHALITY (LIKELIHOOD TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE) WAS LOWERED FOR FIFTY-SIX PERCENTS OF CALLERS WHO WERE THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE. ALL CALLERS WHO HAD ANY THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE, NO MATTER HOW LOW, WERE OFFERED FOLLOW-UP CALLS. 988 COUNSELORS WERE ABLE TO DEESCALATE MENTAL HEALTH SITUATIONS AND HELP CALLERS COME UP WITH A PLAN TO STAY SAFE WITHOUT AN OUTSIDE INTERVENTION ON 99.4 PERCENT OF THESE CALLS. SOME EXAMPLES OF LICCS LIFE-SAVING WORK: (CALL DETAILS HAVE BEEN REDACTED OR ALTERED TO PRESERVE CLIENT CONFIDENTIALITY.) A 29-YEAR-OLD WOMAN CALLED THE 988 LIFELINE AND SHARED THAT SHE WAS THINKING OF KILLING HERSELF BY TAKING PILLS. THE COUNSELOR ACKNOWLEDGED THE STRENGTH IT TOOK TO CALL THE HOTLINE AND SHARE THIS INFORMATION. THE COUNSELOR SUPPORTED THE CALLER AND GOT THEM TO AGREE TO PLACE THE PILLS IN ANOTHER ROOM FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CONVERSATION. THE COUNSELOR AND CALLER DISCUSSED WAYS TO MAINTAIN THE CALLERS SAFETY, INCLUDING HOSPITALIZATION, WHICH SHE DID NOT WANT DUE TO PREVIOUS HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THE POTENTIAL UPSET OF HER FAMILY. THE COUNSELOR POINTED OUT THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CALLERS FAMILY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HER AND SHE AGREED. THE COUNSELOR EXPLORED PREVIOUS SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AND EXPERIENCE WITH OUTPATIENT TREATMENT. THE CALLER SAID SHE HAD A THERAPY APPOINTMENT IN THREE DAYS AND INTENDED TO GO. THE CALLER WAS RECEPTIVE TO A FOLLOW-UP CALL AND AGREED TO GIVE HER PILLS TO HER STEPFATHER TO KEEP HERSELF SAFE. POSITIVE OUTLETS AND A PLAN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY WERE ALSO DISCUSSED.A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT (14) CALLED THE HOTLINE IN EXTREME DISTRESS OVER A SEXUALLY EXPLICIT VIDEO HIS FRIEND HAD SENT HIM. THE STUDENT WENT TO THE DEAN OF HIS SCHOOL AND WAS NOW WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO HIS FRIEND. THE COUNSELOR SUPPORTED THE CALLER FOR DOING WHAT HE FELT WAS RIGHT. THE CALLER SAID HE FELT SO GUILTY THAT HE WAS THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE. THROUGH CONVERSATION, THE COUNSELOR FOUND OUT THAT THE STUDENTS PLAN WAS TO JUMP OFF A BRIDGE AND THAT HE HAD ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BEFORE. THE STUDENT HAD CALLED FROM SCHOOL AND AGREED TO WALK TO THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS OFFICE WHILE THE COUNSELOR STAYED ON THE PHONE WITH HIM. WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNSELOR, THE STUDENT TOLD THE SOCIAL WORKER WHAT WAS GOING ON AND A PLAN WAS MADE TO KEEP HIM SAFE.THE H LINETHE H LINE (NEW YORK STATE HIV/STI/HEPATITIS C HOTLINE) PROVIDES HIV/STI/HCV EDUCATION, RISK REDUCTION INFORMATION, REFERRALS, AND FREE CONDOM DISTRIBUTION TO NYS RESIDENTS.IN 2023, THE H LINES BI-LINGUAL HOTLINE RECEIVED 1,776 CALLS FROM ENGLISH AND SPANISH-SPEAKING INDIVIDUALS SEEKING INFORMATION, COUNSELING, AND REFERRALS ON THE TOPICS OF HIV, STIS, AND HEPATITIS C. H LINE STAFF COMPLETED 90 FOLLOW-UP CALLS TO ENSURE INDIVIDUALS WERE PROPERLY LINKED TO CARE AND RESOURCES. IN ADDITION, THE H LINE RESPONDED TO 318 ONLINE CHATS AND FACEBOOK MESSAGES PROVIDING THE SAME COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT THAT IS OFFERED ON CALLS. THROUGH ITS FREE CONDOM DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, THE H LINE PROVIDED SAFER SEX PRODUCTS TO 1,955 NEW YORKERS VIA DISCRETELY MAILED PACKAGES. THE H LINE CONTINUES TO UTILIZE A STRATEGIC SOCIAL MEDIA PLAN TO TARGET AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS AND ENGAGE THEM IN THE H LINES SERVICES. H LINE STAFF MET WITH 23 ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT NY STATE TO PROMOTE ITS SERVICES. THE RESOURCE COORDINATOR CONTINUES TO MANAGE THE ONLINE RESOURCE DATABASE WHICH CONTAINS ALMOST 500 REFERRALS AND RESOURCES THROUGHOUT NY STATE. SOME EXAMPLES OF THE H LINES WORK: (CALL DETAILS HAVE BEEN REDACTED OR ALTERED TO PRESERVE CLIENT CONFIDENTIALITY.)A CLIENT REACHED OUT CONCERNED THAT THEY HAD AN UNPROTECTED SEXUAL ENCOUNTER AND WAS UNAWARE OF THEIR PARTNERS HIV STATUS. ALTHOUGH THE CALLER IS TAKING DAILY PREP, THEY WERE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR RISK OF CONTRACTING HIV. THE COUNSELOR EDUCATED THE CLIENT ON PREP USAGE AND HOW IT LOWERS YOUR CHANCE OF CONTRACTING HIV, EVEN DURING UNPROTECTED SEX. THE COUNSELOR ALSO INFORMED THE CLIENT THAT PREP DOES NOT PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST STIS AND LINKED THE CLIENT TO A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD GO FOR STI TESTING. THE CLIENT THANKED THE COUNSELOR FOR PROVIDING THEM WITH PEACE OF MIND AND FOR GIVING THEM A RESOURCE.

BUILDING HEALTHY LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION IS LICCS COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT PRESENTS WORKSHOPS IN SCHOOLS (ON-SITE AND VIRTUALLY) FOR STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF. IN 2023, THERE WERE ALMOST 23,000 ATTENDEES. THESE WORKSHOPS ENCOMPASS TOPICS THAT RESPOND TO EMERGING HEALTH PROBLEMS AND EMOTIONAL DILEMMAS THAT AFFECT YOUNG PEOPLE AND PRESENT CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS. TOPICS FOR STUDENTS INCLUDE: SUICIDE PREVENTION; MANAGING EMOTIONS; CYBER BULLYING AWARENESS; LETS TALK MENTAL HEALTH; COPING WITH CRISIS; UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION; UNDERSTANDING GENDER; AND HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LGBTQ ALLY. SCHOOL STAFF AND PROFESSIONALS ARE OFFERED SUICIDE PREVENTION, CRISIS DE-ESCALATION, WORKING WITH THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, AND OTHERS.BUILDING HEALTHY LIVES THROUGH EDUCATIONBUILDING HEALTHY LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION DELIVERS WORKSHOPS FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AS WELL AS PARENTS AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF IN NASSAU AND WESTERN SUFFOLK COUNTIES. THESE WORKSHOPS ENCOMPASS A VARIETY OF TOPICS THAT RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING YOUNG PEOPLE AND PRESENT CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS. THE OVERALL GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO DESTIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH AND TO MAKE PARTICIPANTS AWARE OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM. BUILDING HEALTHY LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION EXPANDED ITS REACH IN 2023. PARTNERSHIPS WERE FORMED WITH SEVERAL NEW COMPANIES TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS TO THEIR STAFF AND CLASSROOM WORKSHOPS WERE PRESENTED IN SEVEN NEW SCHOOLS.TOTAL COMMUNITY EDUCATION ATTENDEES: 22,869 (INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS)SUICIDE PREVENTION: 3,144MANAGING EMOTIONS: 1,267COPING WITH CRISIS: 1,737CYBERBULLYING: 1,798LETS TALK MENTAL HEALTH: 2,815FIGURING OUT OUR FEELINGS: 2,762UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION: 3,439UNDERSTANDING GENDER: 2,437ALLYSHIP IN ACTION: 359LGBTQ+ CULTURAL RELEVANCY TRAININGS FOR PROFESSIONALS: 3,111