[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 79 (Friday, June 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING CALL FOR HELP, INCORPORATED FOR 40 YEARS OF SERVICE TO PEOPLE 
                     IN NEED WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 3, 2011

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in honoring Call for Help, Inc. an organization that is celebrating 
40 years of changing lives.
  Call for Help, Inc. provides the only 24-hour suicide hotline in the 
Metro-East area of Southwestern Illinois. Call for Help, Inc., was 
chartered in 1970 and began as a suicide and crisis hotline, operating 
out of a basement. While this critical service is still very much a 
part of Call for Help's program offerings, they have expanded to meet 
other critical needs through the years.
  Two residential programs have been added, one to serve individuals 
who are homeless and suffer from chronic mental illness. Participants 
in this program receive medication monitoring, counseling, life skills 
training and other services. The other residential program provides 
assistance to homeless young women who are either pregnant or have 
small children. These women receive support and skill development so 
they can achieve long-term independence. Training includes life skills, 
parenting, workplace readiness, GED and other subjects.
  Call for Help, Inc. also provides assistance to victims of sexual 
assault and sexual abuse. Twenty-four-hour response to victims includes 
arriving on-site at the hospital or police station and help navigating 
the medical and legal systems.
  Last year, Call for Help, Inc., provided critical assistance to over 
25,000 individuals and, through the years, they have recorded 
countless, remarkable stories of success.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 
Board of Directors, administration and staff of Call for Help, Inc., 
for their 40 years of changing lives and to wish them continued success 
in the future.

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