Robin Pesci, Director of Howard Center’s First Call for Children and Families, has been nominated to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Steering Committee for a three-year term.
Through her work with First Call, a 24/7 mobile crisis and intake team serving children and families in Vermont, Ms. Pesci has provided leadership to the community regarding mental health crisis services, disaster response, and suicide prevention. Vermont’s suicide rate is the highest of all northeastern states. In 2012, First Call responded to more than 15,000 calls, most of which were a suicide concern.
Ms. Pesci is a member of many regional committees as well as the Vermont Threat Assessment Task Force, Vermont Youth Suicide Prevention Coalition and contributed to the Vermont Youth Suicide Prevention Platform. She has provided training on suicide pre and postvention, crisis response and assessing risk, as well as the system of care in Vermont. Ms. Pesci has worked with communities impacted by a tragedy to implement a postvention response. Ms. Pesci is a field instructor for graduate students in the University of Vermont, Department of Social Work.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Steering Committee provides guidance on the issues that affect the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network, its administration, the crisis center community, and its consumers. The Network is funded through the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
HowardCenter offers life-saving professional crisis and counseling services to children and adults; supportive services to individuals with autism and developmental disabilities who need help with education, employment, and life maintenance skills; counseling and medical services for those struggling with substance abuse, and intensive interventions for adults with serious and persistent mental health challenges. The agency serves 15,000 individuals and families each year, mostly in Chittenden County (although some programs are statewide).
