What Crisis Services does

Crisis Services (legal name: Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1968 and headquartered at 100 River Rock Drive, Suite 300, Buffalo, New York. It is Erie County's only 24-hour comprehensive crisis center, delivering mental-health crisis intervention, suicide prevention, sexual-assault and rape-crisis response, domestic and family violence advocacy, elder-abuse support, and trauma-response services across Erie County and Chautauqua County, New York. Core service infrastructure comprises a 24/7 voice hotline (716-834-3131), crisis text (716-300-2338), crisis chat (Mon-Fri 3-11PM), a Kids' Helpline, an Addiction Hotline, a Mobile Outreach mental-health crisis response team operating as the mobile unit of ECMC's Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP), a Mobile Transitional Support Program, a CIT-Crisis Case Management program, a SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner) Program with SANE-certified nurses at multiple hospital sites, in-person Advocate response at 11 hospital emergency departments across Erie County, and a Trauma Response Program applying Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) principles. Approximately 100,000 callers are served annually, with continuous operation since November 1968.

The underlying technology stack is operational rather than software-based: evidence-based clinical assessment instruments (Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale phone version, American Association of Suicidology Intervention Model for lethality assessment, NY State Mental Hygiene Law Section 9.45 evaluation framework, CISM protocols) administered by trained hotline counselors, licensed clinicians, SANE-certified nurses, and on-site Advocate case managers embedded across hospitals and police departments. The organization's IT footprint is limited to a content website (crisisservices.org), social-media channels (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube), and email newsletter distribution via Network for Good. No AI/ML, no proprietary software platform, no API, and no SDK are evidenced.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit financing structure. Core crisis services (hotline, chat, text, hospital Advocate response, Trauma Response, CIT/MTS programs) are provided free of charge to callers and funded primarily by Erie County Department of Mental Health and a federal SAMHSA grant. Revenue diversification includes tax-deductible donations and planned giving through a separate fundraising entity, Crisis Services Foundation, Inc. (EIN: 22-2954538, established 1980); fee-based professional training ($150 per session for QPR Suicide Prevention, $200 for Safety Planning for Professionals, $150 for Bystander Intervention, $100 per hour for professional consultation); and insurance billing for Mobile Outreach mental health evaluations (with services never denied for inability to pay). The customer base is bifurcated: tens of thousands of individual end-users in crisis per year (free of charge) and a concentrated set of government and institutional payers (Erie County, SAMHSA, Chautauqua County, 11+ hospitals, 13+ police departments, NYS DOCCS, SUNY institutions). Regulation, governance, and accreditation include designation since 1983 as Erie County's Rape Crisis Center by the New York State Department of Health, BBB Accredited Charity status, the All-In Seal from the WNY Women's Foundation, and oversight by an Agency Board of Directors and a Foundation Board. Leadership is President/CEO Jessica C. Pirro, LMSW; VP of Clinical Operations Kelley Swann; CFO Sara Carella; and Development & Marketing Director Candice Fletcher-Pacheco.

Name

Crisis Services

Legal name

Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service, Inc.

Website

https://crisisservices.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Crisis Services is Erie County, New York's only 24-hour comprehensive crisis center, operating since 1968. It delivers free mental-health crisis intervention, suicide prevention, sexual-assault and domestic-violence advocacy, mobile outreach, and trauma response to approximately 100,000 callers and survivors annually through a hotline, text, chat, hospital-based, and community-based service network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Crisis Intervention Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Individual and Family Services (6241), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health Crisis Services Management (988/Hotlines/Mobile Crisis Coordination) (HLAEAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Disaster Behavioral Health & Psychosocial Support (HLAJAGAM)

Keywords

• Crisis intervention services
• Suicide prevention hotline
• Mental health crisis response
• Sexual assault forensic exams
• Domestic violence advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Buffalo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants & Contracts: Crisis Services receives funding from Erie County Department of Mental Health and a federal SAMHSA grant to fund CIT and MTS programs. Services in these programs are free of charge to callers. The Addictions Hotline was founded in 2016 and funded by Erie County.
2. Donations & Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations support the organization's life-saving emergency services. Monthly giving, one-time gifts, honorarium and memorial gifts, matching gifts, and planned giving options are available. The Crisis Services Foundation, Inc. (EIN: 22-2954538) is the fundraising vehicle.
3. Fee-Based Professional Training: Crisis Services offers fee-based professional training programs including QPR Suicide Prevention ($150 per session), Safety Planning for Professionals ($200), Bystander Intervention ($150 per session), How to Handle a Disclosure ($150 total), and CIT Training for law enforcement (fee structure provided upon inquiry). Professional consultation is also offered at $100 per hour.
4. Insurance Billing (Mental Health Evaluations): Mental health evaluations conducted by Mobile Outreach are a billable service covered by most insurance plans. However, services are never denied due to an inability to pay.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Crisis Services operates Erie County's only 24-hour comprehensive crisis center, providing free, immediate crisis intervention through a 24/7/365 telephone hotline (716-834-3131), crisis text (716-300-2338), and crisis chat, supplemented by hospital-based Advocates at 11 emergency departments and community-based Mobile Outreach teams. Service offerings span mental health crisis response, suicide prevention, sexual assault forensic examination (SAFE), domestic and family violence advocacy, elder abuse support, trauma response for suicide loss, and jail diversion through Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) partnerships with law enforcement. The organization also delivers fee-based professional training (QPR, CIT, bystander intervention) and community education across Western New York.

Product overview

Crisis Services operates as a comprehensive 24-hour crisis center serving Erie County, New York since 1968. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected crisis intervention services centered around its core 24-Hour Crisis Hotline (716-834-3131), which serves approximately 100,000 callers annually. The service suite includes real-time communication channels (Crisis Chat Hotline, Crisis Text Hotline, Kids' Helpline, Addiction Hotline), mobile mental health intervention programs (Mobile Outreach Program, Mobile Transitional Support Program), law enforcement collaboration initiatives (CIT-Crisis Case Management Program, Police Mental Health Coordination Project), trauma support services (Trauma Response Program, OASIS survivor volunteer program), and advocacy services for violence survivors (Advocate Department Services, SAFE Program, Sexual Violence Prevention Program, PREA Services). Supporting services include Community Education & Outreach, Professional Training programs, and the Clinic Afterhours Program. All services are designed to provide immediate crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and connections to ongoing support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 24-Hour Crisis Hotline Primary 24-hour crisis support line at 716-834-3131 providing immediate crisis intervention, suicide prevention, lethality assessment (C-SSRS, AAS Intervention Model), and connections to all Crisis Services programs including Mobile Outreach and Advocate services. Free of charge to callers in Erie County.
• Crisis Chat Hotline Real-time text-based chat support with trained crisis counselors, available Monday through Friday 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Confidential online crisis support for individuals who prefer text-based communication.
• Crisis Text Hotline Text-based crisis support line at 716-300-2338, available Monday through Friday 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Provides confidential crisis text support for individuals who cannot or prefer not to call.
• Kids' Helpline Dedicated 24-hour confidential hotline (716-834-1144 / 1-877-KIDS-400) providing crisis support for school-age children, adolescents, parents, and educators.
• 24-Hour Addiction Hotline 24-hour addiction support hotline providing immediate engagement, information, and referral services to substance abuse treatment agencies for Erie County residents. Founded in 2016 and funded by Erie County.
• Mobile Outreach Program Mobile mental health crisis intervention unit, functioning as the mobile unit of Erie County Medical Center's Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP). Provides community-based assessments (including Section 9.45 evaluations), lethality assessments, and jail diversion services for mentally decompensated individuals encountered by law enforcement. Services are billable to insurance but never denied for inability to pay.
• Mobile Transitional Support Program (MTS) Short-term clinical intervention and peer services for individuals transitioning from inpatient psychiatric stays at Erie County Medical Center and Buffalo Psychiatric Center. Funded by SAMHSA.
• CIT-Crisis Case Management Program Short-term crisis case management for individuals with mental illness who interface with law enforcement; aims to decrease law enforcement interactions and increase linkage to community mental health services.
• Trauma Response Program Immediate professional support for individuals exposed to traumatic events including suicide loss, fire, robbery, community violence, workplace death, homicide, and natural disasters. Uses Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) framework including group defusing, group debriefing, individual crisis intervention, follow-up, and referral to prevent PTSD and anxiety disorders.
• SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner) Program On-site forensic evidence collection and medical-forensic interview services for sexual assault survivors within 120 hours of assault, staffed by SANE-certified nurses at Lockport Memorial Hospital, Sisters of Charity Hospital St. Joseph Campus, Buffalo General Medical Campus, and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.
• Advocate Department Services Comprehensive support services for survivors of rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, family violence, and elder abuse, including case management, therapy, emergency shelter coordination, hospital advocacy, and legal support including orders of protection. Operates as Erie County's designated Rape Crisis Center since 1983.
• PREA Services Rape crisis program for incarcerated survivors of sexual abuse at Wende and Collins Correctional Facilities (NYS DOCCS), providing PREA Case Management, advocacy, SAFE Program access, and hospital accompaniment.
• CIT Training for Law Enforcement Specialized Crisis Intervention Team training for law enforcement officers to identify mental health crises and link individuals to appropriate community resources. Since 2015, CIT teams have been developed in 13 police departments across Erie County. Fee-based; fee structure provided upon inquiry.
• Professional Training Fee-based professional training program covering QPR Suicide Prevention ($150 per 1.5-hour session), Safety Planning for Professionals ($200 per 1.75-hour session, up to 30 people), Bystander Intervention Parts I & II ($150 per session), and How to Handle a Disclosure Parts I & II ($150 total). Professional consultation also available at $100 per hour.
• Community Education & Outreach Free educational presentations for community groups, schools, and workplaces including Crisis Services 101, More Than Sad (Teen Depression), Domestic and Sexual Violence 101, Healthy Relationships, and Talk Saves Lives. Available in-person or remote with 2 weeks advance notice.
• Sexual Violence Prevention Program Public health approach to address and prevent sexual violence through prevention education, community coalition building, policy review, and awareness campaigns targeting youth aged 10–24. Delivered through the tri-county Regional Sexual Violence Prevention Center grant from NYS DOH in partnership with YWCA of the Niagara Frontier and RESTORE Sexual Assault Services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves approximately 100,000 callers per year through the 24-hour Crisis Hotline Program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bertrand Chaffee HospitalcoreOthersCrisis Services Advocates provide in-person hospital response at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital emergency department to support survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and family violence at any time.
• Buffalo General Medical Campus (Kaleida Health)coreOthersSAFE Program partner hospital for forensic evidence collection. Advocates also provide in-person response at this hospital emergency department for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors.
• DeGraff Memorial HospitalcoreOthersCrisis Services Advocates provide in-person hospital response at DeGraff Memorial Hospital emergency department for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and family violence.
• Erie County Medical Center (ECMC)coreOthersCrisis Services Mobile Outreach Program is the mobile unit of ECMC's Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP). Advocates provide in-person hospital response at ECMC emergency department. ECMC is the designated facility for 9.45 involuntary psychiatric evaluations.
• Kenmore Mercy HospitalcoreOthersCrisis Services Advocates provide in-person hospital response at Kenmore Mercy Hospital emergency department for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and family violence.
• Mercy Ambulatory Care Center and Mercy Hospital of Buffalo (Catholic Health)coreOthersCrisis Services Advocates provide in-person hospital response at Mercy Ambulatory Care Center and Mercy Hospital of Buffalo emergency departments for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and family violence.
• Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital (Kaleida Health)coreOthersSAFE Program partner hospital for forensic evidence collection. Advocates also provide in-person response at this hospital emergency department for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors.
• Lockport Memorial Hospital (Catholic Health)coreOthersSAFE Program partner hospital where Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFEs/SANEs) provide on-site forensic services for individuals sexually assaulted within 120 hours.
• Sisters of Charity Hospital, St. Joseph Campus (Catholic Health)coreOthersSAFE Program partner hospital where Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFEs/SANEs) provide on-site forensic services for individuals sexually assaulted within 120 hours.
• Oishei Children's HospitalcoreOthersCrisis Services Advocates provide in-person hospital response at Oishei Children's Hospital emergency department for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and family violence.
• Mount St. Mary's HospitalcoreOthersCrisis Services Advocates provide in-person hospital response at Mount St. Mary's Hospital emergency department for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and family violence.
• Town of Tonawanda Police DepartmentcoreOthersCrisis Services has an on-site Advocate case manager at the Town of Tonawanda Police Department. Officers from this department are trained in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model for responding to mental health crises.
• Erie County Sheriff's DepartmentcoreOthersCrisis Services has an on-site Advocate case manager at the Erie County Sheriff's Office. Officers from this department are trained in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model.
• Buffalo Police Department — Special Victims UnitcoreOthersCrisis Services has an on-site Advocate case manager at the Buffalo Police Headquarters Special Victims Unit. Officers from this department are trained in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model.
• Erie County Department of Mental HealthcoreOthersPrimary government funder of Crisis Services. Funds CIT and MTS programs and the Addictions Hotline. Crisis Services is Erie County's only 24-hour comprehensive crisis center designated by the county.
• SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)coreOthersFederal funder of Crisis Services' CIT and MTS programs through a SAMHSA grant. Programs funded by SAMHSA are free of charge to callers.
• Buffalo Psychiatric CentercoreOthersThe Mobile Transitional Support Program (MTS) provides clinical intervention services to individuals being released from Buffalo Psychiatric Center inpatient psychiatric stays. Referrals are made through discharge planners at this facility.
• Suicide Prevention Coalition of Erie CountyminorOthersLocal coalition focused on suicide prevention efforts in Erie County. Crisis Services supports and is connected to the coalition's awareness and prevention initiatives.
• YWCA of the Niagara Frontier and RESTORE Sexual Assault Services (YWCA WNY, RESTORE of Planned Parenthood PCWNY)coreOthersAs lead agency for the Regional Sexual Violence Prevention Center grant from NYS DOH, Crisis Services collaborates with YWCA of the Niagara Frontier (Niagara County) and RESTORE Sexual Assault Services (Monroe County) in a tri-county public health approach to address and prevent sexual violence.
• NYS DOCCS — Wende and Collins Correctional FacilitiescoreOthersCrisis Services serves as the designated Rape Crisis Program for Wende and Collins Correctional Facilities (part of NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision). Services include PREA Case Management, advocacy, and SAFE Program access for incarcerated survivors.
• Chautauqua CountycoreOthersCrisis Services contracts with Chautauqua County to provide the Chautauqua County Adult Mental Health Hotline, providing immediate crisis intervention, supportive counseling, information, and referrals for county residents.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• YWCA of the Niagara Frontier: Western New York nonprofit providing sexual violence and domestic violence services and an active Crisis Services partner in the Regional Sexual Violence Prevention Center. Comparable as a peer rape crisis and domestic violence service provider in adjacent Niagara County.
• The Trevor Project: National 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention service for LGBTQ+ youth via phone, text, and chat. Directly comparable as a specialized crisis intervention nonprofit serving at-risk populations, though scoped to a narrower demographic than Crisis Services.
• Trans Lifeline: Peer-run crisis hotline staffed by transgender individuals for transgender peers. Comparable as a nonprofit 24/7 crisis hotline serving a specific vulnerable population, though much smaller in scale and demographically focused.
• Spectrum Health & Human Services: Western New York behavioral health provider operating clinics, residential, and crisis services in the same Erie County market. Comparable as a behavioral health service organization in the same region with overlapping mental health crisis response capabilities.
• RESTORE Sexual Assault Services (Planned Parenthood PCWNY): Sexual assault services provider operating in Monroe County as a Crisis Services partner in the Regional Sexual Violence Prevention Center. Comparable as a regional rape crisis and sexual violence prevention program collaborating on multi-county public health initiatives.
• Crisis Text Line: National 24/7 text-based crisis intervention service. Directly comparable as a crisis support channel competing for the same digital-native user base, though Crisis Text Line operates nationally while Crisis Services' text line is regional and weekday-evenings-only.
• Mental Health Association of Erie County: Local nonprofit providing mental health support, education, and advocacy in the same Erie County service area. Directly comparable as a regional mental health nonprofit delivering overlapping programs and competing for county contracts and donor dollars.

Broad incumbents

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Federally administered national suicide and crisis hotline network. Directly comparable as a 24-hour crisis intervention service that Crisis Services actively connects callers to, and operates as a regional answering point within the federal network.
• Veterans Crisis Line: Federally operated 24/7 crisis line for Veterans, service members, and their families. Comparable as a federally-funded, designated crisis intervention channel within the U.S. behavioral health safety net, operating at much larger national scale.
• SAMHSA National Helpline: Federal 24/7 treatment referral and information service for substance use and mental health. Comparable as a federally funded crisis/referral helpline that operates in parallel with Crisis Services' addiction hotline and is also a Crisis Services funder.

Market position

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Crisis_Services
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CrisisServicesBflo
• Facebookfacebook.com/162292540490956
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crisisservices
• Instagraminstagram.com/crisisservices

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Crisis Services