CONVENING WELCOME to CONVENING Our site is dedicated to providing information about crisis intervention. You will find information about training, up-to-date information about our conference which is held in spring in Chicago, summaries of presentations from  previous conferences,and examples of brochures and other forms of public relations materials used by hotlines and crisis services across the country. Keep watch for TheTHIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL CONVENING OF CRISIS INTERVENTION PERSONNEL Chicago, Illinois The conference sponsors are CONVENING and the IN TOUCH HOTLINE of the University of Illinois at Chicago A conference dedicated to volunteer and professional crisis workers. Click on the links in the boxes below to find additional information about the topics. for information, e-mail Dr. Barry Greenwald Training Materials for Crisis Workers Proceedings from Previous Conferences   View the PROGRAM CONVENING XXXII and the CONTACT USA Conference and The NATIONAL RUNAWAY SWITCHBOARD CLICK HERE May 9, 10, 11, 2008 Information on Subscribing to Convening's Bulletin Board Links to Crisis Intervention Resources on the Internet (Under construction) Click the box "Proceedings from Previous Conferences." CONTACT USA CONTACT USA (CUSA) provides national support for 40 local CONTACT centers in 17 sttes. Centers receive awards programs, accreditation accepted by both 1-800-SUICIDE and 1-800-TALK. CUSA accreditation is now available to non-CONTACT centers. Centers also receive a monthly newsletter and IRS Group Exemptiont 501(c)(3) status. CUSA partnered in 2005 with the American Association of Suicidology in providing a national conference for all phone crisis centers. CUSA is an affiliate of LifeLine International. To learn more about CONTACT USA, a co-sponsor of CONVENING, click here.   SOME IMPORTANT LINKS The National Association of Crisis Center Directors (NASCOD) A national professional organization for Executive Directors and Program Managers of crisis center hotlines. NASCOD's mission is to provide support and professional development specifically around leadership, management and training issues. Please join us in October 2008 for NASCOD's conference – “Sharing the Journey” Visit our website for more information.  CLICK HERE.   National Suicide Prevention Lifeline The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's mission is to provide immediate assistance to individuals in suicidal crisis by connecting them to the nearest available suicide prevention and mental health service provider through a toll-free telephone number: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). It is the only national suicide prevention and intervention telephone resource funded by the Federal Government. CLICK HERE.   TO VIEW SOME PICTURE MEMORIES OF CONVENING XXIV, CLICK HERE. 1-800-SUICIDE Connects callers to the closest hotline. Hotlines have to become members. If you meet certain requirements, the membership is free. This is the result of Reese Butler working with AAS and SPAN. Click here to send us your name and address for our mailing list: To learn a bit about the history of CONVENING, click here.   Taking Care of Ourselves so We Can Take Care of Others Click on the title above to review the remarks of Jesus Reyes, Director of Social Services for the Circuit Court of Cook County. Keynote Speaker for CONVENING XXIV A Program to Prevent Child Abuse CONVENING XXIII's keynote speaker, Joanne Martin, shared important information about a relatively new program designed to prevent child abuse. The Healthy Families America Initiative is a nationwide program designed to engage parents before their children are born in an effort to teach them "good parenting strategies." To learn more about this program, click here We are anxious to have your feedback about our site. If you have suggestions or comments about how to make CONVENING's webpage more useful to you, let us know.     E-mail us by clicking: Barry Greenwald or Sigmund Burdin   Revised: May, 2008	s