History
-The original site of the Alternative House at 667 Van Buren St. in Gary, Indiana
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-The current site of the Crisis Center in Gary's beautiful
Miller Beach area, located just 4 blocks south of
Lake Michigan
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Volunteers began Rap Line in 1971 in response to a teenage suicide. Alternative House opened in January 1976. Counseling Services developed in 1974. Safe Place outreach to youth in crisis began in the spring of 1987. Teen Court, an early intervention and youth development program began in 1989 and Youth as Resources in 1998. In 2003, a merger was completed between Rap Line and Contact Cares and the name of the crisis line was changed to Crisis Contact. Reassurance Contact is outreach to disabled or senior citizens through regular phone contact.
Philosophy
We believe in people. We believe people are important. We believe that people can change. We believe in each life there are crisis events that are opportunities for change.
We believe relationships between people are the vital link that holds society together. We believe in each life there are moments when the individual or the family must reach beyond themselves for support, help and understanding.
We believe it is in such moments that the Crisis Center serves as agents to respond, to aid, to support and to enrich the people we serve.
We Help
Any person, of any age, in personal crisis through our 24 hour services, range of services, and referrals throughout Indiana.
Management
Donald G. Capp, founder, was followed in 1992 by co-founder Shirley Caylor, Executive Director. Management consists of Barbara Wisdom, Associate Director/Finance, Kathleen Marencik, Alternative House Coordinator (and current Counseling Services contact); Nikki Wielgos, Safe Place Coordinator/Events Coordinator; Sandra Porter Phillips, Teen Court Coordinator/Human Resource Specialist; Gavin Mariano, Youth as Resources Coordinator/Safe Place Assistant/Technical Support/Webmaster/Public Relations; Willie Perry, Crisis Contact & Reassurance Contact Coordinator.
Board of Directors
President - John Diedrich (Regional President, Chase);
Vice-President - Mark Maassel (President, NIPSCO);
Vice-President - Andy Arnold (CEO, Precision Control Systems);
Secretary/Treasurer - Bonnie Coleman (Attorney, Hodges & Davis, P.C).
Alyce Butler (NIPSCO, Community ret.); Linda Buzinec (Mayor, City of Hobart, IN.);
E. Thomas Collins, Jr. (Owner, Collins Interests, Ltd); Vic DeMeyer (NIPSCO, Community ret.);
Rev. Al Dwenger (Pastor, Immanuel United Church of Christ); James J. Krajewski (Attorney);
Patrick Lee (President, Lee Construction); Robert Lovely , Ph.D. (Indiana University);
Bart J. McCartin (VP of Operations, Aker-Knaerner-Songer); Tom McDermott (Owner, Radio Stations);
Nadine McDowell (Attorney, Banking, Community ret.); David Mulcahey (President, MBC Office Products);
William Nangle (Executive Editor, The Times); Tom Ploski (Manager, Pepsi Cola Bottlers ret.);
Joe Quinn (VP of Finance, Majestic Star Casino); Thomas Sourlis (President, Mortar Net, Inc. ret.);
Brad Sult (Private Banker, First Midwest Bank); Roger Wills (School Counselor, Gary ret.);
Robert J. Welsh (President, Robert & Kathleen Welsh Foundation);
McKenley Wright (Manager, Methodist Hospital Care Network);
Jay Wagner (American Society for Clinical Pathology)
Funding
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Runaway & Homeless Youth Act; Indiana Dept. of Child Services; Indiana Dept. of Education; Gary School Corporation (Chapter I); Lake Area United Way; Lake County Division of Child Services; Lake County Drug Free Alliance; Anderson Foundation; corporations, churches, service clubs, and individuals.
Area Served
Northwest Indiana, primarily Lake County, although any person in need of service from any part of the state or nation may receive services at the Crisis Center.
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