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Community Services & Support At Your Finger Tips

What Is FirstLink?

FirstLink is a free, confidential service offering listening and support, referrals to resources/help, and crisis intervention 24 hours a day. FirstLink answers the 211 Information & Referral Helpline, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and several contract lines providing support to other human service agencies. FirstLink provides these services across the entire state of North Dakota and parts of Minnesota. To reach support, connect with FirstLink via phone, text, or chat:

211 Information & Referral Helpline
Dial 2-1-1 or (701) 235-7335
Text zip code to 898-211

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Dial or text 9-8-8
Visit 988lifeline.org/chat

FirstLink offers the Care and Support Program, a program that receives referrals from hospitals and clinics across North Dakota as well as the 211 Helpline and the 988 Lifeline. The program offers resources and coping strategies, encourages mental health treatment, and provides non-judgmental listening and support. Calls are offered weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly and work around your schedule. The Care and Support Program is confidential, free, and voluntary.

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Meet Our Leaders

Jennifer Illich
Executive Director

Ashley Ladbury Hrichena
Operations Director

Ashley Lemke
Helpline Director

Jeremy Brown
Outreach Director

Board of Directors

Sarah Aaberg, O’Keefe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys
Vice-Chair of Governance

Kristi Clifton, US Air Force – ND Air National Guard
Governance

Ashley Schmidt, Bremer Bank
Governance

Timothy Briggeman, Cass County Sheriff’s Office
Governance

Kyle Veum, Forum Communications Company
Board Chair/Vice-Chair of Internal Board

Chesley Matter, Blue Cross Blue Shield ND
Internal Board

Darren Schmidt, Valley Mortgage
Internal Board

Sandra Buchholz, Sanford Health
Internal Board

Dave Lund, Digital Plains
Vice-Chair of External Board

Kathryn Norby, Sanford Health
External Board

Elizabeth Medd, studioBARRED
External Board

Blaise Kautzman, Epic Tech
External Board

FirstLink History

2023

Expansion of funding provided by the state of North Dakota is approved for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. FirstLink hires a 988 Coordinator to oversee the Lifeline services.

2022

FirstLink launched text and online chat support for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

2021

Our Suicide Follow-up program and our Community Navigator for addiction program combined to form the Care and Support program.

2020

FirstLink celebrated its 50th anniversary! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our celebrations looked much different than we had planned, and unfortunately, we were not able to hold our Giving Tree of Hope/Toys for Tots event.

2019

FirstLink’s Statewide Suicide Follow-up Call Team received the Partnership Building Award from the North Dakota Association of Nonprofits, recognizing community leadership.

2018

Added a Community Navigator program to connect those struggling with addiction to resources. We began offering texting for our 211 line.

2015

FirstLink receives re-accreditation through Alliance of Information and Referral Services (AIRS).  Began offering LivingWorks Education’s safeTALK alertness workshop. Began offering Youth Mental Health First Aid USA. Handled the millionth call.

2014

FirstLink expanded the Giving Tree of Hope program, becoming the local Toys for Tots coordinator. Began offering Mental Health First Aid USA training. The Volunteer Center became the Volunteer Network.

2013

FirstLink’s Giving Tree of Hope program partnered with Toys for Tots to provide holiday gifts to those in Cass County, ND and Clay County, MN.

2012

FirstLink receives certification as a Child Abduction Response Team (CART) member. Began an Ongoing Suicide Follow-up Program funded by the North Dakota Department of Health.

2010

FirstLink received the 2-1-1 designation for all of North Dakota. CERT/Teen CERT was given to Cass County/NDSU Emergency Management. Partnered with the RedHawks and began Volunteer Appreciation Night. Created the Community Volunteer Workshop. The holiday gift-giving program was renamed Giving Tree of Hope.

2009

FirstLink received accreditation from the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS).  The first Teen CERT class was held at West Fargo High School.  Experienced Parent Project was no longer a project at FirstLink.

2007

FirstLink began providing 2-1-1 service for Cass County, ND and Clay County, MN.  Received the Crisis Center Award for Community Engagement from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL).  Began offering LivingWorks Education’s Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) workshop.

2006

Holiday Clearing Bureau changed its name to Season of Hope and partnered with The Salvation Army to distribute holiday gifts and food baskets.

2005

Director of Volunteer Center was hired and Disaster Volunteer Coordination is re-established. Community Emergency Response TEAM (CERT) training is established under the Volunteer Center. FirstLink moves to 13th Avenue, in Fargo.

1998

Community Resources, Inc. changed its name to FirstLink and reorganized.

1997

The Volunteer Center initiated the Nonprofit Board Development Training (January)

1996

Began Suicide Education Outreach in local schools

1995

United Way of Cass-Clay and Community Resources, Inc. dissolved their parent/subsidiary relationship (January). Community Resources, Inc. became its own free-standing nonprofit organization.

1994

Community Resources, Inc. discontinued its partnership in the Coats For Kids program (October)

1993

Community Resources, Inc. was reorganized and a full-time director was hired.

1991

United Way’s Community Resources Division became a nonprofit subsidiary of United Way of Cass-Clay and became Community Resources, Inc.

1990

HotLine accepted responsibility for the YWCA Phone Friend telephone warm line.

1987

Became accredited through American Association of Suicidology (AAS).

1984

HotLine Community Services merged with United Way of Cass-Clay and became Community Resource Division.

1983

Volunteers for Community Service and HotLine, Inc. merged – became HotLine Community Services.

1981

HotLine, Inc. became a 24-hour program following the merger of the Suicide Prevention Line previously answered at St. Lukes Hospital (now Sanford) and Southeast Human Service Center.

1976

First collaborative effort with the American Legion Toy Project and the Holiday Clearing Bureau.

1973

First organized Holiday Clearing Bureau effort.

1970

HotLine incorporated. Volunteer operated from 7 pm-1 am each day.

1968

Volunteers for Community Services incorporated.

1967

Volunteer Community Service began.

24-Hour Helpline

Dial 211 or 701-235-SEEK (7335) for local community and volunteer resources or for listening and support.

Call

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Dial 988 if you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide.

Call

Crisis Phone Services

Crisis Service Agencies contract with FirstLink to answer their phones after hours.

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Our community relies on us and we rely on you.
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FirstLink is a free, confidential service available to anyone 24/7/365 for listening and support, referrals to resources/help, and crisis intervention. FirstLink answers the 211 helpline, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and communicates via Text line 898-211. FirstLink provides these services across the entire state of North Dakota and parts of Minnesota. Dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 from anywhere in our service area for confidential help and support.

© 2022 FirstLink.