Blog Entries

Walk For Depression Awareness - Support Provident

staff@providentstl.org — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:44:29 +0100

Nearly everyone knows someone who has struggled with depression. Now you can help by joining the 5K Walk for Depression Awareness on August 14. The walk is one of the highlights of the Mental Health Expo in Tower Grove Park.

You can join others who are supporting Provident's programs that help those with mental illnesses. Click here to registe [...]

Provident Kids Helping Kids Around the Globe

staff@providentstl.org — Tue, 18 May 2010 21:18:55 +0100

Provident's FLITE kids hosted an international dinner August 13, 2009 as part of a service-learning project. While participants face poverty and other serious obstacles themselves, the mission of FLITE is to empower children by building skills so that they can make a difference in the community. The event raised about $3,000 to dig a well for a school in Ethiopia through Charity: Water, wh [...]

James Alverson - Dedicated LCS Volunteer

ss@providentstl.org — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:55:36 +0100

James William Alverson (Doran) was a cherished Life Crisis volunteer. For 9 years, Mr. Alverson dedicated his time and energy to help hotline callers work through a crisis...he volunteered to save lives.

On November 14, 2009, Mr. Alverson died from leukemia. Life Crisis Services is saddened by the loss of Mr. Alverson and his contributions to our community. [...]

Out of the Darkness

ss@providentstl.org — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:47:02 +0100

Nine years ago, I learned, firsthand, of the devastation left behind by a loss to suicide with the death of my 23 year old son. I wondered how I could be called a “survivor of suicide” when I was sure I would not survive. I also felt the stigma of suicide in the reactions of co-workers, neighbors and my church. I felt so isolated at a time when support was so desperately needed.

Fortunately, for me, I had the availability of Life Crisis Services survivors of suicide suppor [...]

Congress Considers Legislation for Federal Response to Problem Gambling

lgale@providentstl.org — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:41:26 +0100

H.R. 2906: the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act of 2009 (CPG) would provide the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration with authority to coordinate Federal action regarding problem and pathological gambling.

The bill proposes to allocate $14.2 million in grants per year to non-profits and state agencies prevention, research, and treatment of [...]

A Vigil for Victims

CMcIntosh@providentstl.org — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:40:55 +0100

I had the privilege of being invited to speak briefly at a candle light vigil for victims of domestic violence last Wednesday night in Belleville, IL. This was the fifth annual vigil, the first was held in 2005 after the community had been rocked by a string of bloody domestic homicides. One of the presenters last night was a w [...]

"Don't ever be late with my son again!"

twallace@providentstl.org — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:00:00 +0100

Last week, in the parking lot of a local fast food restaurant, I watched as two adults hurled obscenities and threats at one another. In broad daylight, over the hood of a running engine, a couple fought violently.

I surmised from the very loud shouting that the couple was in the process of exchanging physical custody of their son.

World Suicide Prevention Day

ss@providentstl.org — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:00:00 +0100

September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. Hmmmm. Doesn't exactly call for a celebration, does it? It might, I think, if it gave us all occasion to consider: Suicide is the leading cause of death worldwide. Worldwide, one million people die by suicide every year--about one every two minutes. That's staggering to me. Many millions more make sui [...]

Book Club

ss@providentstl.org — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:00:00 +0100

I was given pause today, which all by itself says something—things seem very hectic these days, and multitasking the order of my day—when I opened an envelope containing a donation to Provident’s Life Crisis Services Hotline. The envelope contained a number of checks from members of a book club, honoring the memory of a member’s daughter who has d [...]

Sticks and Stones

staff@providentstl.org — Sun, 03 May 2009 06:00:00 +0100

As I learned of the deaths by suicide of two eleven year young boys within a week of one another, I nearly fell to my knees, realizing that this could be the fate of my son in a few years. I could not imagine having this shining, sensitive spirit (who can also be a pipsqueak) that I have nurtured since birth four years ago, decide that the pain of li [...]

Missouri Recovery Network Urges Rethinking of Punitive Approach to Drug Use

lgale@providentstl.org — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:00:00 +0100

MRN www.morecovery.org today urged members to contact their State Senators and express opposition to the recently passed Missouri House Bill 30, now sent to the Senate for consideration. HB30 requires the Dept. of Social Services to develop a program to test applicants and recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families when a caseworke [...]

Who notices when crime is prevented?

jwharton@providentstl.org — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:00:00 +0100

In 2008, Provident served almost 600 children in the 63115 and 63147 zip codes, one of the most violent crime ridden communities in the City of St. Louis and non of them were charged with a crime last year. The youth ages 6-21 years of age were involved in a wide range of neighborhood based programs that include: after school programs at the Shreve Neighborhood Center, Ashland Elementary, Herzog Elementary, a program for youth that dropped out of high school called Transitions to Work for You [...]

Problem Gambling Funding Restored

lgale@providentstl.org — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:00:00 +0100

Important Follow-up!

Yesterday evening, the House Budget Committee voted "yes" on Budget Committee Chairman Allen Icet's amendment to restore the Compulsive Gambling program to its full 2009 funding level of $499,745.

Full story: http://www.bhcjournal.com/Default.aspx?tabid=182&ArticleId=18341

Provident appreciates your [...]

Negative Shift in Problem Gambling Funding

lgale@providentstl.org — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:00:00 +0100

Today, David Sater, chairman of the House appropriations subcommittee on health and social services and a Cassville Republican, eliminated all fiscal 2010 funding for the problem gambling (compulsive gambling) counseling program and shifted the appropriation to the state’s general fund.

This negative shift in funding will cause a financial barr [...]

Counseling is a Conversation About Change

cs@providentc.org — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:00:00 +0100

An old woman was sitting outside the gates of the city, enjoying the warm sun and watching people pass by when a traveler stopped to address her. “I am thinking of moving to your city. What can you tell be about the people who live here?,” asked the traveler. “I will tell you,” said the woman, “but first you must tel [...]

Letter of Support: Funding for Problem Gambling Treatment

ss@providentstl.org — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:00:00 +0100

Dear Members of the Missouri House Budget Committee:

I am a state certified compulsive gambling counselor, the Vice President of Telephonic Services and Program Manager of Missouri's problem gambling helpline, 888-BETS-OFF. I am a lifelong resident of Missouri, and proud to be a participating member of the Missouri Alli [...]

A Virtual Matchmaker for Volunteers

ss@providentstl.org — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 06:00:00 +0100

An article in today’s Wall Street Journal. “A Virtual Matchmaker for Volunteers” boasts that 60.8 million Americans donated 8.1 billion hours of volunteer service in 2007. Unfortunately, it also reports that volunteers are more fickle, have less time, and don’t want to make a long term commitment.

In my position as director of a volunteer bas [...]