June 5, 2002

Boise State Opens Crisis Training Office, Seeks Donations

Boise State University’s Certified Crisis Worker (CCW) Preparation Program, the first of its kind in the United States, will open its permanent office in Room 102 Lincoln Hall, 1517 Lincoln Avenue, Boise, ID 83725. An official dedication ceremony will be held from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, August 24.

As a registered nonprofit charitable organization, the Idaho Suicide Prevention and Hotline Service is asking the public for donations to the office space. Top priorities include:

All donations are tax-deductible and can be personally dedicated. For information on how and where to donate please call (208) 426-3532. Pledges for donations should be made by Monday, July 15.

The new facility will be used to train crisis intervention workers, help operate the Idaho Suicide Prevention crisis hotline, maintain a comprehensive resource library, support TTY and computer-assisted crisis work, and provide a meeting space for a new Survivors of Suicide support group. The space will also house the office facilities of the Idaho branch of a national organization, the Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network (SPAN), which currently seeks to develop and implement a statewide suicide prevention plan for Idaho.

The CCW Program trains and helps qualify students to take the American Association of Suicidology’s Certified Crisis Worker examination. Currently there are only eight qualified certified crisis workers in the western states, and only one in Idaho. The program is still in its first year of existence.

Contact:
Peter Wollheim
Idaho Suicide Prevention and Hotline Service
(208) 426-3532