First Call For Help

What First Call For Help does

First Call for Help of Itasca County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit crisis intervention and resource referral organization headquartered in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Founded in 1974 as the Nightingale Help Line, the organization has operated continuously for 50+ years and currently employs 150+ staff and contractors running eight programs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Its service portfolio centers on the 211 information and referral line, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (as a network Crisis Center), and multiple mobile crisis response teams — the general Crisis Response Team (1999), the Veteran Crisis Response Team (2018), and the Adolescent Crisis Response Team (2024) — supported by a 24/7 walk-in Crisis Reception Center and the New Leaf Healing Center, a short-term residential crisis stabilization home with an IRTS program. First Call for Help's core technological asset is Minnesota's comprehensive 2-1-1 resource database, covering more than 40,000 programs and services with continuously updated information, which underpins its referral accuracy and contract competitiveness.

The organization's business model is a hybrid of government service contracts and philanthropic support. Government revenue comes from contracts with tribal, county, state, and federal entities for crisis intervention and mobile dispatch across 38 Minnesota counties, three Tribal Governments (Leech Lake, Bois Fort, Fond Du Lac), the statewide MN Farmer's Help Line, and 47-county primary plus 87-county backup coverage of the National Suicide Prevention Line. A 501(c)(3) donation stream — including a planned-giving program called the Nightingale Calling Legacy Program — supplements contract revenue. All services are delivered free of charge to end users regardless of ability to pay, with medical insurance billed where available but never as a condition of service. Distribution to end users occurs through 211/988 phone lines, the walk-in Crisis Reception Center, mobile crisis teams dispatched to homes, schools, hospitals, and emergency rooms, and the residential stabilization facility.

First Call for Help holds AAS Crisis Service Accreditation in both Telephone and Text-Based Crisis Services, PsychArmor Veteran Ready Organization certification (in both Non-Profit and Health Care capacities), and is integrated into the 988 Lifeline network via Vibrant Emotional Health georouting. Its key partnerships include the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, the federal VA, MN United Way, MN Department of Agriculture, and Itasca County Health and Human Services. The organization was recognized with a 2023 VFW Life Saving Award for the Veteran Crisis Response Team's clinical work. Leadership is led by Executive Director Cre Larson (since 2014), Clinical Director Tom Gaffney, and Clinical Supervisor Michelle Rinne, with governance from a community board. The organization is privately held, has no disclosed parent company, no subsidiaries, and no venture or private equity ownership.

Name

First Call For Help

Legal name

First Call for Help of Itasca County

Website

https://firstcall211.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

First Call for Help is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides 24/7 crisis intervention, 211/988 information and referral, mobile crisis response, and residential stabilization across 38+ counties and three tribal nations, serving residents, veterans, youth, and farmers free of charge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Crisis Intervention and Mental Health Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Social Assistance (624), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Crisis intervention services
• Mental health helpline
• Suicide prevention lifeline
• Community resource referral
• Mobile crisis response

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: Contracts with Tribal, County, State and Federal entities for crisis response services spanning 38 counties, mobile crisis dispatching, and statewide helpline coverage.
2. Donations: Community donations supporting nonprofit operations. Organization is a qualified 501(c)(3) organization with Federal Tax ID 36-3541015.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

First Call for Help is a nonprofit crisis intervention and information/referral organization operating 24/7/365 to provide free, confidential mental health crisis support, suicide intervention, mobile crisis response, and resource navigation across 38+ Minnesota counties. The organization runs multiple helplines (211, 988, MN Farm and Rural Helpline), specialized mobile crisis teams (general CRT, Veteran CRT, Adolescent CRT), a 24/7 walk-in Crisis Reception Center, and the New Leaf Healing Center residential stabilization program.

Product overview

First Call For Help / 211 is a crisis intervention and resource referral organization offering multiple interconnected services. The core offerings include the 211 Phone Line for information and referrals, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and various mobile crisis response teams (Crisis Response Team, Veteran Crisis Response Team, and Adolescent Response Team). Additional services include the 24/7 Crisis Reception Center walk-in facility and the New Leaf Healing Center residential program. The organization also provides specialized helplines for farmers (MN Farm and Rural Helpline), self-care resources (Stable Embrace), and educational materials (Get Informed). A legacy giving program (Nightingale Calling) supports planned donations. Services cover Itasca County and extend across 38+ Minnesota counties and multiple tribal nations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• New Leaf Healing Center: A short term 5-10 days residential crisis stabilization home offering Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS) for individuals 18 and above experiencing mental health crises.
• Crisis Response Team (CRT)
• Veteran Crisis Response Team (VCRT)
• Adolescent Response Team (ACRT)
• Stable Embrace
• MN Farm and Rural Helpline

Products and services

• 211 Phone Line Help Free, confidential information and referral service available 24/7 connecting callers to health and human services including food, housing, mental health, legal assistance, and more.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline National suicide prevention hotline providing free, confidential emotional support to individuals in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, with georouting to connect callers to local crisis centers.
• Crisis Response Team (CRT) Mobile crisis response team of mental health professionals available 24/7 to provide rapid response services to individuals in mental health crisis, helping avoid unnecessary hospitalization.
• Veteran Crisis Response Team (VCRT) Veteran-staffed mobile crisis team providing mental health emergency response, crisis intervention, and stabilization services exclusively to veterans and service member families in Itasca County.
• Adolescent Response Team (ACRT) Specialized mobile crisis response team designed to provide immediate, on-site assistance to children and adolescents experiencing mental health crisis, launched in 2024.
• Crisis Reception Center 24/7 walk-in center integrating mental health crisis services, chemical health crisis services, and 2-1-1 information and referrals into one accessible location for individuals of all ages.
• New Leaf Healing Center (NLHC) Residential crisis stabilization home offering short-term (5-10 day) stays and Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS) up to 90 days for adults experiencing mental health crises.
• MN Farm and Rural Helpline Statewide helpline providing mental health support specifically for farmers and rural Minnesota residents experiencing stress, with phone, text, and email contact options.
• Stable Embrace Self-care directory providing resources for mental wellness including meditation, relaxation techniques, movement, guided prayer, and other self-care practices.
• Get Informed Educational resource providing information about gun rights related to mental health commitments, including Minnesota statutes on firearms and commitment processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24/7/365 availability - crisis support at any time
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• MN United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner2-1-1 Call Center Hub partnership since 1999. First Call for Help became the Hub Agency providing information and referral coverage for seven North Central counties (Beltrami, Hubbard, Clearwater, Lake of the Woods, Itasca, Koochiching, and Aitkin) through the MN United Way Service Area.
• Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with MDVA to address veteran suicide prevention. First Call for Help's Veteran Crisis Response Team works to reach veterans in crisis and provide intervention and ongoing support services.
• Veterans Administration (VA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinate with VA on veteran services. The VCRT team works closely with the VA to enhance and expedite services for veterans.
• VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVFW Post 1720 presented the Life Saving Award to the VCRT in September 2023. VFW nationally notified the local post about the award recognition.
• Itasca County Veterans Services OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith permission from each Veteran, the VCRT team works closely with Itasca County Veterans Services Office to coordinate veteran services.
• Itasca County Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Itasca County Health and Human Services in efforts to enhance and expedite services for veterans in crisis.
• PsychArmorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Call for Help joined nearly 200 organizations nationwide leveraging the PsychArmor educational platform to ensure staff and volunteers are better prepared to connect with and support military and Veteran communities.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Call for Help became a Crisis Center within the 988 Lifeline Network in 2020. The network is a national network of over 200 local crisis centers. First Call for Help provides coverage for 47+ counties and statewide backup services.
• Vibrant Emotional HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministrator of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. First Call for Help participates in georouting implementation to direct calls to the closest crisis center based on caller's physical location.
• Leech Lake Band of OjibwecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrisis Line Intervention Services and Mobile Crisis Dispatching for Leech Lake Tribal Government. Serves communities within Leech Lake Reservation boundaries.
• Bois Forte Band of ChippewacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrisis Line Intervention Services and Mobile Crisis Dispatching for Bois Forte Tribal Government.
• Fond Du Lac ReservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrisis Line Intervention Services and Mobile Crisis Dispatching for Fond Du Lac Tribal Government.
• American LegionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral and support partner for veteran services.
• Yellow RibbonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for veteran services and education benefits.
• MN DAV (Disabled American Veterans)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for veteran services.
• National Suicide Prevention LifelinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Call for Help provides statewide (87 county) back-up crisis line services and covers 47 counties across greater MN for the National Suicide Prevention Line.
• MN Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the MN Farm and Rural Helpline serving all Minnesota farmers with stress and crisis resources.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Trevor Project: Leading crisis intervention nonprofit serving LGBTQ+ youth via phone, text, and chat. Comparable to First Call for Help's specialized crisis services for distinct populations (LGBTQ+, adolescents, veterans).
• Boys Town: National nonprofit providing crisis intervention, residential care, and family services for at-risk youth. Comparable to First Call for Help's Adolescent Crisis Response Team (ACRT) and youth crisis programming.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): National mental health nonprofit providing support, education, and advocacy. Comparable to First Call for Help as a community-based mental-health nonprofit offering crisis support, resource navigation, and public education.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Leading suicide prevention nonprofit funding research, education, and survivor support. Comparable to First Call for Help given both organizations are anchored in the national suicide-prevention ecosystem and AAS-aligned standards.
• Crisis Text Line: National nonprofit providing 24/7 text-based crisis intervention. Directly comparable to First Call for Help's AAS-accredited Text-Based Crisis Services and 988/Lifeline text-channel operations.
• Mental Health America: Community-based nonprofit focused on mental health promotion, screening, and early intervention. Comparable to First Call for Help across mission (community mental health support), operating model, and reliance on government and donor funding.
• Vibrant Emotional Health: National administrator of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and a leading crisis-services organization. Directly comparable to First Call for Help as a hub for crisis-line operations, georouting, and accreditation standards across the U.S.
• Findhelp / Aunt Bertha: National social-care network connecting people to community resources (housing, food, mental health). Comparable to First Call for Help's 211 resource database and referral function, though operating as a technology platform rather than a call center.

Regional players

• 211 San Diego (via 211.org): Regional 211 hub providing information and referral services in Southern California. Comparable to First Call for Help as a 211 hub agency with similar information/referral and crisis-coverage contracts in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): Federal agency within HHS overseeing mental health and substance use services, including the Disaster Distress Helpline and 988 policy. Comparable as a broad incumbent setting the regulatory and funding framework in which First Call for Help operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/firstcall211
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/firstcallforhelp211

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 First Call For Help