Microsoft awards Crisis Clinic with $10,000 grant

Redmond-based Microsoft Corp. awarded Crisis Clinic a $10,000 grant this month to support their free telephone-based support services including the 24-Hour Crisis Line, WA Recovery Help Line, King County 2-1-1 and Teen Link.

By Reporter Staff • April 29, 2013 1:27 pm

The grant will help Crisis Clinic serve the growing a number of callers in need of assistance with crisis intervention, mental-health services and help finding basic needs services such as food, shelter and rent or utility payment assistance.

“This generous grant from Microsoft Corp. is an important source of funding for Crisis Clinic in 2013,” said Kathleen Southwick, Crisis Clinic’s executive director. “Their support allows us to continuing reaching out to underserved populations, particularly those who do not speak English or for whom English is their second language. In the last five years, the number of callers needing interpretation service has skyrocketed by about 90 percent.”

All of Crisis Clinic’s telephone services provide free translation in 155 languages and many of their printed materials are also available in languages other than English.

“Microsoft’s support of Crisis Clinic helps ensure that anyone experiencing crisis has a place to turn to for help,” Southwick said.

Crisis Clinic has been part of the King County safety net for nearly 50 years. Their programs serve as a “first call for help” for anyone in the community experiencing crisis. Whether in need of emotional support or help finding basic needs services, Crisis Clinic’s programs offer immediate assistance to individuals and families experiencing crisis.

The organization assists some of the most vulnerable people in the community – those experiencing a mental-health crisis or considering suicide, those experiencing homelessness or with incomes below poverty level, at-risk youth, immigrants/refugees, seniors and those living with disabilities.

Crisis Clinic’s telephone services provide a free and easily accessible way for those in crisis to reach out and get the help they need. Last year, Crisis Clinic answered more than 233,000 calls for help.