By the time Stephanie made the call to 211, she was convinced there were no resources available to help her son. However, after connecting with a compassionate intervention specialist, she felt renewed hope.

Stephanie's son Jason had been laid off from his job a few months prior and had turned to alcohol to cope with how he was feeling. With no insurance and little savings, Stephanie wasn't sure what options could be available for her son. The intervention specialist was able to find a few options in the area where Jason could get help with alcohol detoxification.

A few weeks later, Stephanie called back and left a message for the specialist she previously spoke with. Jason had successfully been admitted into an alcohol detox program and was already doing much better. Stephanie was feeling less stressed, and was looking forward to a promising future for her son.

When Steven reached out to the Crisis Center, he was at a loss about what to do next. Having recently lost his job, he was now at risk of losing his rental property where he parked his mobile home. On top of his financial issues, he was also struggling to support his 15-year-old daughter who was battling her own mental health issues.

Steven was connected with a Crisis Center care coordinator so that he could receive ongoing support. The care coordinator provided suggestions of where to search for jobs and helped Steven brainstorm where he could get funds to cover his rent until he secured a new job. In an effort to improve his financial situation, Steven tried to sell his car but was turned down by the car dealership. Feeling confident from his conversations with his care coordinator, Steven directly asked for a job at the car dealership and was able to start immediately. His family also stepped in to help him with his rent so that he could stay in his home with his daughter while he got back onto stable financial ground.

After spending almost two years trying to build a life for herself in Florida, Rosa finally called 211 for support in March. As a 40-year-old trans woman, she had repeatedly experienced discrimination, hate, physical assault, and sexual assault in rental properties and job environments.

Thankfully, Rosa was quickly connected with Amy, an Advocacy Care Coordinator. Rosa shared that she was extremely lonely since she had no community in Tampa and had been cut off from her family since she came out as trans. After hearing about Rosa's struggles, Amy immediately worked to get her into trauma counseling.

While attending counseling, Amy connected Rosa with Metro Inclusive Health's Trans Services Division to get her resources and support. Together, they helped to find Rosa a safe place to live so she could begin living a happy, healthy life in Tampa. Although she is still attending trauma counseling, she is very thankful for the support and help she has received from the Crisis Center.

After what I thought would just be a fun night out with friends, I ended up in the hospital after being drugged and raped by two men. I will never forget how it felt to sit in the back of the police car as they transported me from the hospital to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay for my rape kit. But I will also never forget the nurse, Kelsey, who greeted me at the door and treated me with kindness and compassion as she listened to the story of my assault.

I was mortified about what had happened to me. Kelsey helped me to process the assault and navigate through the shock of what had just occurred. During the exam, Kelsey explained every step of the process since I was still very anxious and sore. While I was thankful for the trauma informed approach, the greatest gift was the hot shower I was offered to help wash away the events of the night before.

The Crisis Center connected me with a support group and an advocate to provide emotional assistance as I needed it. I have struggled with PTSD since the night of my assault, but have been working towards healing through yoga, breath work, and focusing on being mom to my son. To the staff at the Crisis Center, thank you.

When Bryan reached out to one of our Suicide Prevention Care Coordinators for help a second time, he was struggling to manage his thoughts of suicide. While he had previously worked with our staff following the death of his mother, he hadn't been ready to process his grief at that time.

But this time was different. Bryan was fully engaged with his care coordinator and was ready to begin his road to healing. He frequently checked-in with his care coordinator, and together they built a safety plan for when Bryan felt overwhelmed with suicidal thoughts. He was also connected to a grief support group, where he immediately felt supported and understood.

Bryan continues to be engaged with his care coordinator as he begins counseling with a Corbett Trauma Center therapist but feels confident he'll be ready to graduate from care coordination once he builds a rapport with his new counselor. For the first time since losing his mother, Bryan feels like he has a chance at a life not burdened by grief.

When Nate called the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, he was experiencing suicidal ideations. His girlfriend had recently broken up with him, and he had also ended his friendships with his college roommates. Between the two events, he was feeling completely alone and hopeless.

The Intervention Specialist who answered Nate's call helped him build a plan for how he could be safe in that moment and offered a follow-up call from a Crisis Center Suicide Prevention Care Coordinator, so he'd receive ongoing support. When the Care Coordinator reached out to him, Nate shared that he was still struggling and felt that he would benefit most from a healthy support system. The Care Coordinator suggested Nate attend a peer support group for young adults struggling with mental health issues.

Nate was quick to join the group and participate in the discussions, and immediately felt heard. At the encouragement of his support group and the Care Coordinator, Nate began researching options for one-on-one counseling. He was feeling so relieved about the changes in his circumstances that he felt confident enough to begin applying to nursing schools. Nate finally feels hopeful for his future.