[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14150]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER OF JO ANN PISEL, EXECUTIVE 
                       DIRECTOR OF CALL FOR HELP

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 9, 2003

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing the distinguished career and retirement of Jo Ann 
Pisel, Executive Director of Call for Help Incorporated from 1976 to 
2003.
  Jo Ann Pisel has been with Call for Help for the past 27 years, 26 of 
which as the Executive Director. Call For Help is a not-for-profit 
multiple social service agency in St. Clair County, Illinois. Under her 
guidance, the organization, which started in the basements of 
volunteers, has grown and continued to offer critical services to the 
communities in Illinois that they have served for the past 33 years.
  Starting with a Suicide and Crisis Hotline, the Call for Help agency 
includes a Victim Sexual Assault Care Unit, now with three satellite 
offices (Mt. Vernon, East St. Louis and Madison County). It also 
includes an Information and Referral Program, giving links to resources 
in the community and assisting with rental, utility and prescription 
assistance when available. Also, there is a domestic violence program 
that has evolved and has become an entity on its own now celebrating 25 
years of service. Furthermore, Call for Help has an Adult Residential 
Program serving those who find themselves in a mental crisis, Crisis 
and MISA Counseling Services and a Transitional Living Center, housing 
homeless young women and their dependent children.
  Serving people of all ages has been Jo Ann's stock in trade. In 
addition to her duties at Call for Help, Jo Ann also serves as a Home 
Health Social Worker for a variety of Home Health Agencies, currently 
BJC and Nurses and Company. From 1980-1992, Jo Ann was the Social 
Service and Activity consultant for Dammert Geriatrics, Parkview Manor 
and the St. Paul's Home for the Aged. She was a Medical Psychiatric 
Social Worker at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Granite City and also 
served as a private consultant. She served as a caseworker for female 
ex-prisoners in the late 60's and was a caseworker for foster families 
from 1968-1969. From 1966-1969, she served as a childcare worker at 
Villa Maria Maternity home in St. Louis, working with single, young 
pregnant women. From 1959-1966, Jo Ann taught the elementary grades 
first through sixth.
  Jo Ann was recognized in 2001 as one of the Top Ladies of Distinction 
and in 1997 she received the St. Louis University-School of Social 
Service, Alumni Distinguished Service Award. That same year she was 
named a Hardees Hometown Hero and in 1995, was honored as being 
recognized as both the State of Illinois and Metro East Social Worker 
of the Year.
  Jo Ann has worked tirelessly all of her life in the service of people 
and has given much of herself to filling the needs of the community, 
both the young and old.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
contributions of Jo Ann Pisel and wish her the best in the future.

                          ____________________