About SPCS

Mission     Meet the Staff       Board        History      Contact

Mission

The mission of Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service is to promote   
constructive responses to crisis and trauma and to prevent violence -to self and others - through direct support and community education.

 Meet the Staff 

Scott Heyman, Interim Executive Director
 

Micaela Corazón,
Crisisline Director

Micaela received her undergraduate degree from California State University. Having worked in the field of HIV/AIDS Education and Advocacy for seventeen years in California, she moved to Ithaca in 2000 with her life partner. Before coming to SPCS, she was the Regional Director for AIDS WORK and then the Program Director for Community Dispute Resolution Center. For several years, Micaela was a volunteer at SPCS.  She is currently working on a book of short stories about her 22 years in San Francisco. 

Ellen Abrams, Director of After Trauma Services

Lee-Ellen Marvin, Director of Education and  Interactive Arts       

Lee-Ellen has studied, practiced, researched, and taught storytelling and oral traditions for over 25 years; she completed her Ph.D. in Folklore and Folklife from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003. Exploring themes of community and self-discovery through adapted folktales and original stories, Lee-Ellen has performed from children, teens, and adults. Originally from Maryland , she lived in Massachusetts , California and Pennsylvania before moving to Ithaca in 1997 to work for the Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts and the Community School of Music and Arts. She is an adjunct instructor for the Department of Speech Communication at Ithaca College .

Richard Driscoll, Director of Development

Richard is a 30-year resident of Tompkins County and comes to SPCS with a long-career in community-based not-for-profit management and arts administration.   He was the founding Executive Director of the Community Arts Partnership, the arts council for Tompkins County , where he served for 18 years.  He looks forward to a new career working in human services and to the challenges and rewards the work provides.  Richard is President of the Board of the Human Services Coalition, on the Board of the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byways, the Social Service League, a Trustee of the Tompkins County Public Library, serves on the City of Ithaca Public Art Commission and is a Councilperson on the Newfield Town Board. 

Board of Directors
Current as of August 2010

Caroline Cox, President
Cheryl Mitchell, Vice-President
John Strong, Treasurer
Kristal Ozmun, Secretary

John Bailey
Doug Green
Michael Hoysic
Lenny Nissenson
LeBron Rankins
Marie Sirakos
Taf Squires
Karen Williams 

 

History and Timeline

History: Following a series of suicides in 1968 Ithacans lobbied for a 24 hourcrisis service. Reverend Jack Lewis took the first call in 1969. The caller was a young man who felt so upset that he had decided the only solution was to kill himself. With the help of our first volunteer counselor, the young man renewed his hope and sense of possibility. 387 calls were received that year; in recent years about 11,000 calls are received annually and nearly 1,000 monthly.

 

1969	387 calls
1970	407 calls
1973	1192 calls
1974	2150 calls
1975	First after-trauma services following suicides, homicides, and other traumas
1976	2756 calls
1977	3665 calls
1978	American Association of Suicidology first certifies SPCS
1979	Adolescent outreach program developed
1980	5000 calls
1981	First Elegant Party
1982	After Suicide Support Group begins meeting
1983	SPCS offers emergency outreach services with the county mental health clinic
1985	Resources for bartenders and hairdressers developed
1986	28,000 copies of teen suicide prevention pamphlet sold
1988	Crisis intervention materials in 6 languages are prepared
1989	"A Gentle Ear" pamphlet distributed to elderly
1990	"Men Are Talking to Us" distributed, calls from males increase to 40% of total
1991	"You Are Not Alone" pamphlet developed for gay/lesbian youth
1992	10,167 calls; First trainings for college resident staff
1993	Cayuga Community Role Players becomes a project of SPCS
1994	SPCS celebrates its 25th anniversary
1995	Talking With The Caller, a new manual by SPCS and Cornell University, is published
1996	SPCS holds the first annual Suicide Survivors’ Day program
1997	10,442 calls received on the Crisisline SPCS performs Three Long Days, about the suicide of a local high school student
1998	9000 magnets with the Crisisline number are distributed to vulnerable populations after research shows most crises happen in people’s kitchens
1999	1700 individuals receive postvention support after suicides, fires, vehicular deaths, accidents, robberies, traumatic events
2000	SPCS opens the Sidney L. Tamarin Training and Resource Center at 124 E. Court St. (Crisisline remains at confidential address); presents play about school violence in collaboration with the Hangar Theater; First Annual Walk for Violence Prevention; receives Red Cross Award for Exemplary Service
2001	Serves over 2000 community members in the aftermath of September 11th and following local suicides, homicides, robberies, fires and other tragedies; Resource Library on Crisis Issues and Violence Prevention is open to the community; Cayuga Community Role Players receive Martin Luther King Peacemaker Award
2002	3rd Walk for Violence Prevention; Annual Meeting with Drs. Ellen de Lara and James Garbarino.
2003	The 8th annual Suicide Survivors Day features Dempsey Rice; Annual Meeting features Susan Rose Blauner, author of How I Stayed Alive When my Brain was Trying to Kill me; Crisisline Counselors receive Tompkins Trust Company Award for Excellence
2004	Playwright Kenny Berkowitz presents readings from Ashes; Dr. Ricky Greenwald  presents “Youth After Trauma: How Traumatic Events Change Who our Children and Teens Become” at the 35th Annual Meeting
2005	Dr. Greenwald trains mental health practitioners and schools in helping children with trauma; the 10th annual Suicide Survivors' Day focuses on "The Lasting Impact of Suicide"; support groups are organized for "Therapists Who Have Experienced the Suicide of a Client" and for "Evacuees of Hurricane Katrina"; writing and topic workshops are begun; the Annual Meeting on crisis, trauma and the expressive arts features local painters, qulters, craftspeople, dancers, musicians, etc.
2006	The SPCS Crisisline has received over 220,000 calls.
2007	Over 1000 people have served as counselors. Over 10,000 people have received after trauma services. Over 25,000 participated in SPCS trainings.

 

 

 

Contact   

 

 

Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service

124 E. Court Street Ithaca, NY 14850   

24 Hour Crisisline: (607) 272-1616

Other Services: (607) 272-1505

Fax:(607) 272-1839 

Contributions and correspondence may be sent to:

SPCS,

124 East Court

Street, Ithaca , NY 14850 .

E-mail: info@ithacacrisis.org

 

 

Please note: E-mail is available for scheduling after-trauma & education services, providing volunteer information & addressing business needs. For counseling please call the Crisisline at (607) 272-1616