"Rumors, crisis information, or just plain rapping” The poster touting the Switchboard for Help’s services is hand drawn - faded blue on a white background, yellowed with age. It is complete with a peace sign and art nouveau inspired illustrations - signs of the times in 1970 when the Switchboard for Help opened for business in Salem. In 1971, the Switchboard for Help joined forces with a fledging free medical clinic known as the Cry of Love to become an official incorporated non-profit organization. The Cry of Love, the brainchild of two UCLA medical students working with the Marion County Health Department, eventually grew to become Northwest Human Services (NWHS).
As we look deeper in the history of our organization, we find that NWHS has a rich tapestry of providing services woven with a common thread: We rise up to meet the needs of our Community. Looking back at the beginning, the recurring theme is that each service was born out of a great need expressed by Local Government, Faith organizations, Community partners, and the Citizens themselves.
The Beginning: Switchboard for Help
The Switchboard for Help opened its lines in 1970 to provide resource information to those flocking to Oregon for the much anticipated Vortex Music Festival. A surprising majority of the calls however, were from people who just needed someone to talk to - to “just plain rap.” The second highest reason for calls was requests for medical services - health exams, counseling, and substance abuse concerns.
1971: West Salem Clinic | Total Health Community Clinic
In the summer of 1971, two UCLA medical students arrived in Salem as part of an internship with the Marion County Health Department. Noting the lack of healthcare available for the low-income and the homeless, students Phil Yule and Paul Kaplan requested the assistance of the Health Department in opening a free clinic to serve our disadvantaged population. With the Department’s support and assistance, and by partnering with the Switchboard for Help, The Cry of Love Free Clinic was opened, staffed by a crew of dedicated medical students and volunteer medical professionals.
Cry of Love Free Clinic blossomed into the West Salem Clinic, now spanning nearly one whole city block in West Salem. What makes our Clinic unique is our integrated care. Patients can receive primary medical care, dental care, mental health support and psychiatry services all on one campus.
The West Salem Clinic is also home to our Connection Program, one of the only counseling, case management and resource providers for Salem’s Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing population.
In 2002, after seeing that the need for services reached beyond the City of Salem, NWHS opened the Total Health Community Clinic in Monmouth giving our rural neighbors access to medical care to help them live healthier, happier lives.
We believe that everyone in our community should have access to affordable and excellent healthcare. Our clinics offer a sliding fee scale based on family size and income for those who are uninsured or underinsured. No one is ever turned away due to their inability to pay. This philosophy, in addition to our exceptional care, is why over 12,000 patients consider us their medical home.
1982: HOST | For Young Adults Facing Homelessness
In 1982, Northwest Human Services answered the call to help homeless youth by obtaining Federal “Basic Center” funding to open a youth program, first known as the Runaway Shelter Project/Salem Streetlight. Under the original model, homeless, runaway, and abandoned youth (ages 12 - 18) were temporarily placed with volunteer families to provide respite care from tumultuous home life situations. In the early 1990’s The Runaway Shelter Project formally changed their name to HOST or Homes Offering Shelter to Teens.
Today, HOST (now an acronym for Health, Outreach, Shelter, Transitions) provides support and shelter for transitional aged youth ages 18 - 24. HOST is a safety net for youth aging out of foster care or those who did not grow up in stable and healthy home environments. HOST includes a Resource and Engagement Center, a 14 bed Emergency Overnight Shelter, and a Transitional Living Program. Youth come to HOST for meals, showers, laundry facilities, and are provided healthcare at our West Salem Clinic to address their health and wellness needs.
HOST aims to end the cycle of abuse, trauma, homelessness, and exploitation by supporting young adults moving from the streets to self-sufficiency. The HOST team builds meaningful relationships with those we serve, helping our clients to feel validated, safe, and most of all, Hopeful.
1986: HOAP | For Adults Facing Homelessness
In 1986, the Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Project (HOAP) was opened in response to Salem’s growing homeless population. Published articles covering the early days of HOAP detail the plight of mentally ill adults recently released from the Oregon State Hospital or the Oregon State Penitentiary with no housing, no formal health, social or financial supports in place, and no one to turn to. HOAP became, and still is, a place to turn, offering a safe and judgment free space, full of compassion, dignity, and respect.
HOAP offers visitors a place for meals, laundry, and showers as well as Case Management, Peer Support and medical care at our West Salem Clinic.
HOAP’s Outreach staff canvases our Community in an ongoing effort to engage homeless and at-risk adults, and connect them with services that will provide a better quality of life.
The HOAP day-center operates under a peer-run model. Our homeless and formerly homeless clients volunteer their time to support day-to-day operations. On any given day, our “Peer Associates” can be found bustling throughout the building; cleaning, helping other clients, and working closely with staff to provide a safe, welcoming environment for everyone.
Since the Beginning: Crisis & Information Hotline
At the heart of it all, Switchboard for Help is still going strong. Now known as the Crisis and Information Hotline, our team handled an unprecedented 25,000 calls in 2017. These calls come in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Our Crisis Intervention Workers are trained to handle the most extreme emotional crises that people face, acting as a lifeline of support. In 2017 alone, our Hotline handled 381 suicide intervention calls, helping people through the most difficult times of their lives. The Hotline is accredited by the American Association of Suicidology; meaning we are held to the highest national standards for suicide intervention services.
Callers are assisted in finding information on local resources and may find they qualify for emergency financial assistance for payment of rent, utilities, and prescription medications. One-time emergency assistance bridges the gap for families and individuals whose life circumstances have temporarily taken a detour, often saving them from eviction or having their utilities shut off.
And of course, callers can still “just plain rap”, and receive the emotional reassurance and support they need when times are tough.
