News and Updates
Building confidence, facing challenges, and
practicing leadership skills — all part of Winter Camp!
"Not long enough!" was the only complaint heard by youth attending the February winter retreat. Sponsored by Listening Ear, the winter camp was held at the Mystic Lake Camp in Clare County. Youth Services Counselor Brad Vavzincak and CMU interns Kim & Erica, and MSU intern Elaine, with assistance by YWCA staff, facilitated the program for 15 youth from three Listening Ear programs — Youth Services, Child Foster Care and Child Sexual Abuse Treatment and from three counties - Clare, Isabella and Gratiot. Though 20 youth were slated to go, five had to cancel due to the heavy snow and illnesses.
The activities included personally challenging activities as well as just plain fun! There was tobogganing, hiking, campfires, a challenge course, team building and experiential activities, karaoke, a little "girly girl" time (though a few boys invaded and got their nails polished) and of course, the occasional snowball fight! Two youth even served as Junior Counselors helping to keep things running smoothly.
We are grateful for our 2008 youth camp contributors including the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, Clare County Enterprise Community, Clare County Community Foundation, Tri County Electric People Fund, Mt. Pleasant Optimists, and federal & state funding.
A Simple Idea that Grew to Serve Thousands
Kathleen Tarrant, now the Crisis Center Director at Listening Ear, was among three individuals who founded Listening Ear in 1969. One summer while Kathleen’s three young children played at their feet, the founders responded to crisis calls coming into her home!
By the mid 1970’s, the
service operated from various donated spaces and on a very
small budget. Despite this, the program grew to more than
370 calls a year and had nearly 50 volunteers.
During the 1980’s, as the number of calls increased to
2,000 a year, the Crisis Center expanded its information &
referral services and produced a Resource Directory. The
agency also began offering an after-hours call service for
several local health and human service providers.
The number of calls nearly doubled from
1990 to 2000. And doubled again by 2007.
Last year, 2006/07, the number of calls sky-rocketed to
20,844!
The type of calls during the last decade
has also changed. During the early years, calls
were most often university students and some community
residents seeking a confidential and empathic listening ear
while working through personal issues involving health,
mental health and relationships. The last decade has seen
a shift to calls from people from all walks of life struggling
to meet day-to-day needs. Last year, the most common
reasons given for calling the Crisis Center were :
1. Housing issues.
2. Lack of Money for Utilities.
3. Transportation.
4. Medical concerns.
5. General Information.
Highly capable Crisis Center staff
The team of Crisis Center professionals manning the 24 hour service is made up of seven mental health technicians. Each has completed a stringent training course that includes 40 hours of study plus at least 20 hours of supervision.
Kathleen Tarrant, B.S. and with nearly 40 years experience in the human services field, serves as Crisis Center Director. Kathy says, “The types of calls we receive are more complex now. Lack of stability in jobs, housing, families and relationships seem more common. It is nearly impossible to get a job without a diploma and many jobs do not pay a living wage. Parents and grandparents may no longer live nearby to lend a hand. All of these contribute to stress.”
Mary, with a Bachelor’s degree plus 14 years experience, shares the story about how she once saved a man’s life.
One night a distraught man called saying he was holding a gun. Mary was able to convince him to put the gun down. She then summoned the police to assist. She says, “I have no doubt that he would have killed himself had we not helped.”
Courtney has her Masters of Social Work and Stephanie has a Bachelor’s degree and is working on her Masters. Stephanie says, “A woman contacted us desperate to escape an abusive living situation. With the assistance of numerous agencies, we were able to guide the woman to a safe and secure
environment. It was satisfying to help her make a positive change.” Completing the team are Adam and April, who both have Bachelor level degrees, and, the newest mental health technician, Vanessa, who is completing her Bachelor’s degree.
Just Some of the People Helped by the Crisis Center
On any given day, Listening Ear’s Crisis Center receives calls from community members dealing with a wide range of needs. Here are just a few examples:
- “I lost my job and have no money for food...are there services to help my family?”
- “I am concerned about my brother’s drinking.”
- “My husband is abusive to both me and our son. He has gambled away all our savings. I can’t take it anymore.”
- “The costs of my prescribed medications are more than my rent — where can I get help?”
- “We just moved here and need to find daycare.”
- “My husband left me and our three children. I am afraid and can’t sleep.”
- “I feel so alone without my dear wife. We were together for 53 years.”
- “My husband is ill. The mortgage is due, the fuel tank needs to be filled, and, I need to buy my husbands prescriptions. I’ve been sick with worry. Do you know where I can find help?”
Crisis Center staff listen to each caller, determine the actions required, and if requested, provide the caller with resources they can use to help themselves. Staff utilize more than 400 resources to find help for callers. It is also a point of access for receiving help for a number of helping agencies such as the Goodrow Fund and Red Cross Food Pantry.
