Suicide Prevention Center, Inc. (SPC) is the second oldest suicide prevention agency in the country and the oldest suicide prevention center in the State of Ohio. It was created by volunteers in 1965 as a community outreach program. The SPC crisis hotline is staffed by trained volunteers. SPC's hotline is the oldest continually volunteer-run hotline in the United States. Further, SPC initiated the concept of a Survivors of Suicide support group.
SPC serves the people of Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties as well as those residing in Adams, Auglaize, Brown, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Darke, Fayette, Hamilton, Hardin, Highland, Logan, Madison, Miami, Pike, Ross, Shelby, Union and Warren counties. It is the only crisis center in the area that is a member of the American Association of Suicidology. It is certified by the Ohio Department of Mental Health. SPC is also a member of the Montgomery County Suicide Prevention Coalition, Montgomery County Suicide Prevention Task Force and the Miami Valley Sexual Minorities Suicide Prevention Committee. Finally, SPC is a United Way Partner Agency.
Before the second half of 1996, SPC was completely funded by Alcohol, Drug Addiction Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board for Montgomery County and United Way. In 1996, when the county formed a triage system or its services, the public monies all went to Crisis Care.
Not only has SPC continued to exist and offer its varied programs, but services have expanded and requests for services have quadrupled since the second half of 1996. Since the loss of public funding in the second half of 1996, SPC has reorganized and established a new funding base. From 1996 to 2008, all funding came from private foundations, individual donors and fundraising events. In the latter half of 2008, United Way awarded SPC a small amount of funding for our school prevention program. The only other public monies that SPC receives are ?donor choice? monies from United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (those monies the donor stipulates MUST go to SPC only). While most services still remain free of charge to the client, SPC markets its training workshops. In 1996, SPC had 22 paid staff. At present, there are 2 ? paid staff and sixty-five volunteers. Volunteers answer the crisis hotline and serve in additional, unpaid staff positions
A board of trustees governs SPC. At present, the board is comprised of: