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S.o.s. Please

S.o.s. Please image
Parent Issue
Day
26
Month
November
Year
1971
OCR Text

SOS. PLEASE

Since May, 1970, S.O.S., a campus-community crisis center, has been in operation. Formerly, "Students Offering Support", the S. O. S. Community Center originated on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in the basement of the Snow Health Center.

In April, 1971, it moved to its present location at 501 N. Adams, in Ypsilanti, Michigan to service the Ypsilanti community, as well as the campus. The move was accomplished with the support of civic leaders and organizations such as: The Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce; Jaycees; Community Chest; Catholic Social Services; Kiwanians; other Fraternal, Business, and Service Organizations; and of course, Eastern Michigan University.

S. O. S. is a person-to-person program whose purpose is to help people help themselves to resolve their own conflicts and problems. They are not professionals, nor do they claim to have all "the answers". Through a friendly and informal atmosphere, they hope to help people confront their problems, identify alternatives, and seek solutions.

S. O. S. has 24 hour on-call personnel who are specially trained in suicide intervention, drug emergencies, and advanced first aid, The "Flying Crisis Squad" is available anytime for an emergency situation. They will drive to any place within a twenty-five mile radius of Ypsilanti for crisis help. This service is for emergencies ONLY, it is not a "taxi" or "ride" service. The volunteers use their own vehicles, pay for expenses, and volunteer their time.

All volunteers complete an extensive thirty four training program given by the organization. They also attend a weekend empathy training session at a "retreat" conducted by a professional training organization. All volunteers are on a constant "probation", and may be dismissed for inadequate working abilities.

Their services are the following:

(1) Flying Crisis Squad (2) a telephone "hotline" operated 24 hours a day, all week, to accept calls concerning such areas as: sex, family and social problems, drugs (including booze), general information, body problems, the Draft, depression, academies, vocational hassles, finances, transportation, crash pads, missing persons, marriage, social events, dating, parent-child relationships, alcoholism, addiction, roommates, birth control, problem pregnancy, loneliness, illness, poisons, insomnia, community hassle fighters, and any area in which a person is confused or depressed about. (3) over 600 referrals (4) community drug education raps and S.O. S. information (5) information files, books, and brochures are available at the center for public use (6) the center is open 24 hours a day to the public for crisis walk-in situations or any other service (7) the center is a consultant to other "sister" crisis-community centers in Michigan and the United States (8) aluminum cans, paper, cardboard, and glass recycling center (proceeds buy food for the kitchen) (9) ALL SERVICES ARE FREE! ! ! ! I DROP BY AT 501 N. ADAMS ANYTIME or CALL 485-3222

FOR PROGRAM INFO WRITE:

Coordinator S.O.S. Community Center

501 N. Adams  Ypsilanti,  Michigan  48197