first, call FirstLink

FirstLink has been around for almost 50 years and continues to provide assistance to people who need help finding and identifying access to community resources in their area. They answer the 2-1-1 helpline for all of North Dakota and Clay County as well as the national suicide prevention hotline in all of North Dakota and some of Minnesota. FirstLink also assists the community with crisis work, volunteer disaster coordination and mental health awareness training. Yet all of this would not be possible without the new community navigator, Jennifer Holtz.

Holtz began her journey at FirstLink in August, but before that worked in behavioral health with children and adolescents for almost 20 years. She worked at Southeast Human Service Center with intensive case management for adults with serious mental illness, and before that she worked at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch as the residential treatment supervisor. The role as community navigator at FirstLink consists of working with individuals, families or other concerned people to provide information and referral and help coordinate care for people. “I work really close with providers. We have a memorandum of understanding with 14 providers who give me regular updates on their occupancy for beds, availability for programs and evaluations,” says Holtz. Individuals are put into a data base where they are able to help identify the appropriate resource for somebody based on their needs. FirstLink will be there to help with the barriers that some may face when trying to receive the help and care that they need.

That leads to an effect on the community that is everlasting. “The most immediate value is that it helps people with substance use disorders feel connected and less alone. I make it a priority to answer every call from a place of listening and understanding,” says Holtz. Everyone has a unique story and deserves to be heard; FirstLink gives the community just that with their dedicated staff.

There are many ways that the community can get involved with FirstLink. “We would love to see every member of the community and every agency know about FirstLink and spread the word about us and our programs,” says Holtz. If you have a success story where you called FirstLink and had gotten support, FirstLink would love to hear it. Other success stories can be found online at myfirstlink.org. FirstLink also provides education and training. They educated over 6,000 people in 2018. Some of the trainings include mental health first aid for both youth and adults, and Safetalk, which is aimed at learning to recognize the warning signs of somebody who is at risk for suicide.

FirstLink is open for calls 24/7 by calling 2-1-1 to get connected for support. Also, if you feel inclined to donate financially and support FirstLink, it helps to insure the call specialists are well trained. They go through an extensive training process to make sure that they are well versed in the data base and, even more importantly, how to intervene when somebody is suicidal as well as being an understanding ear to listen. Visit myfirstlink.org to find out how to get involved with this incredible organization.

Join us for the ANNUAL SPRING BREAKFAST to learn more about how FirstLink is working to end the stigma of mental illness and suicide through community education.

Wednesday, May 2 7:30 – 8:30 AM

Hilton Garden Inn

4351 17th Avenue S, Fargo