FirstLink

FirstLink is a private, nonprofit human service agency that began with the incorporation of the Volunteers for Community Service in 1967 and the incorporation of HotLine in 1971. In 1974 the Holiday Clearing Bureau coordinated the first Cass-Clay community holiday giving program.
 
1967 - Volunteer Community Service began
 
1968 - Volunteers for Community Services incorporated.
 
1971 - HotLine incorporated. Volunteer operated from 7pm-am each day.
 
1973 - First organized Holiday Clearing Bureau effort.
 
1976 - First collaborative effort with the American Legion Toy project and the Holiday Clearing Bureau.
 
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.
 
1983 - Volunteers for Community Service and HotLine, Inc. merged - became HotLine Community Services.

          Programs included: 
          HotLine (24 hours)telephone listening and support, crisis intervention,
          information and referral.
          Comprehensive Information and Referral program
          Volunteer Center
          Holiday Clearing Bureau
          Emergency Services (This N That Shop, Emergency Food Pantry, Inc.)
 
1984 - HotLine Community Services merged with United Way of Cass-Clay and became Community Resource Division. 
  
1987 - Became accredited through American Association of Suicidology (AAS)
 
1990 - HotLine accepted responsibility for the YWCA Phone Friend telephone warm line.
 
1991 - United Way’s Community Resources Division became a nonprofit subsidiary of United Way of Cass-Clay and became Community Resources, Inc.  
 
          Programs included:
          Coats for Kids
          Phone Friend
          Gifts in Kind
          Management Assistance Program
          Holiday Clearing Bureau
          Volunteer Center
          HotLine
 
1993 - Community Resources, Inc. was reorganized and a full-time director was hired. 

         Community Resources, Inc. programs included:
         Coats for Kids
         Holiday Clearing Bureau
         HotLine (initiated CARRIER ALERT and Suicide Survivors Support
         Group; Phone Friend merged into HotLine telephone lines)
         Volunteer Center
         PEW Cultural Diversity Project (Fiscal administration)
         United Way maintained the Gifts in Kind and Management Assistance
         Program
         Suicide Survivors Support Group began
 
1994 - Community Resources, Inc. discontinued their partnership in the Coats For Kids program (October)
 
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. 
          Programs included:
          Holiday Clearing Bureau
          HotLine
          Volunteer Center 
          PEW Cultural Diversity Project (Fiscal administration) 
 
1996 - Began Suicide Education Outreach in local schools
 
1997 - The Volunteer Center initiated the Nonprofit Board Development Training (January)
 
1998 - Community Resources, Inc. changed its name to FirstLink and reorganized.

          Programs included: 
          Department of Information and Crisis Services
          Department of Volunteer Services
          Department of Community Outreach
          Holiday Clearing Bureau
          Experienced Parent Project
 
2002 - Reorganized.  Programs Included:
           Crisis and Suicide Intervention Services
           Listening and Support Services
           Information and Referral Services (including volunteer resources)
           Holiday Clearing Bureau
           Experienced Parent Project
   
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 adminstrative office moves to new location on 13th Avenue, in Fargo.
 
2006 - Season of Hope was formed with the Salvation Army to help distribute holiday gifts and food baskets to children and special needs adults.
 
2007 - FirstLink began providing 2-1-1 service for calls that originate in Cass County, ND and Clay County, MN.                                   
 
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. 
 
2010 - FirstLink received the 2-1-1 designation for the entire state of North Dakota.  CERT/Teen CERT was given back to Cass County Emergency Managers/NDSU Emergency Management Department.  Holiday gift-giving program was restructured and renamed to Giving Tree of Hope.  FirstLink created the Community Volunteer Workshop and partnered with the FM RedHawks to begin Community Volunteer Appreciation Night.
 
       Programs Included:
       Information and Crisis Services 
       Volunteer Center
       Giving Tree of Hope

2011- FirstLink began to refer to the 24-hour 2-1-1 service (formerly hotline) as the FirstLink 2-1-1 Helpline.  FirstLink receives re-accreditation through American Association of Suicidology (AAS).  FirstLink began the Nonprofit Opportunity Fair with NDSU to connect more volunteers.

2012 - FirstLink receives certification as a Child Abduction Response Team (CART) member.  FirstLink began an Ongoing Suicide Follow-up Program funded by North Dakota Department of Health.

 
FirstLink is funded in part by United Way.