Senate Resolution No. 3970

BY: Senator KENNEDY

COMMEMORATING the 50th Anniversary of Crisis
Services

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to commend those
illustrious organizations of the State of New York whose focus and
intent have made a substantial impact on the quality of life in their
communities; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Crisis Services; and

WHEREAS, Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service, Inc. began its
operations in November of 1968, after two years of strategic planning
conducted by stakeholders from the Mental Health Association, the
Psychological Association of WNY, the Community Welfare Council, and the
Erie County Department of Mental Health; and

WHEREAS, Although this vital organization began as a suicide
prevention hotline, Crisis Services now assists with other traumatic
events such as domestic violence, rape crisis calls, elder abuse, and
general support; and

WHEREAS, Crisis Services is a truly innovative unit which explores
new methods of treating people in emotional crisis, providing training
and education programs for workers, and building a comprehensive body of
research on best practices for crisis support; and

WHEREAS, The most comprehensive crisis center in Upstate New York,
Crisis Services of Erie County offers essential services to the
community including a 24 hour hotline, emergency mobile outreach, trauma
response, and the advocate program; and

WHEREAS, Under the able leadership of its CEO Jessica Pirro, Crisis
Services hosted and organized a 26-episode podcast series which outlines
how crisis services interacts with issues in the community; these
programs are provided by both full and part-time staff, as well as the
support of 75 professionally trained volunteers; and

WHEREAS, In 2017, Crisis Services' staff members and volunteers
tirelessly assisted 98,834 individuals in crisis through their various
hotlines and crisis response services; and

WHEREAS, Today, Crisis Services manages the Suicide Prevention
Coalition for Erie County and is one of the founding partners of the
Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition, an organization working to end the
stigma surrounding mental illness; and

WHEREAS, The success of Crisis Services is in direct correlation to
the efforts of its staff and volunteers, whose involvement is, and
always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled
enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all
endeavors on behalf of the organization and the community it serves; and


WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion presents an opportunity for this
Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to Crisis Services; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Crisis Services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Crisis Services, Buffalo, New York.