FrontLine Service News

“I don’t think people understand how hard it can be for someone, especially a vet, to ask for help so the fact that they do means they have already completed half the battle to getting themselves back on track.”

Nicki Blade is a Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program Manager and has worked at FrontLine for 13 years.

Sev wakes up on the couch in his cousin’s house, checks his phone, and leans back, looking at the ceiling. He rubs the sleep out of his eyes and groans, stretching. He knows he’s lucky to have a few friends and family members who have been able to offer him a temporary place to stay for a week or two, but couch surfing for the last four months is getting pretty old…

FrontLine Service is excited to announce the establishment of our agency’s first endowment fund through the Cleveland Foundation.  

FrontLine’s calling has always been to reach out to those most in need, to provide a safe landing and services for those whose needs are not met elsewhere. With nearly 36 years of experience in pursuing this purpose, FrontLine is singularly positioned to serve those impacted by the trauma of violence, homelessness, and the growing need for accessible mental health and crisis services brought on by these escalating challenges.  

"[My favorite part of my job is ] working with children and families following trauma. While you are exposed to a lot of secondary traumatic experiences you also get to see and work with families who are resilient, courageous, and help them reestablish their personal power and equilibrium. It is a privilege to walk with them on their journey."

- Susan Weaver is the Children Who Witness Violence Program Manager and has been working with FrontLine since 2008. 

“You just don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors—we need to go back to having stronger community—and always, always just be kind.” 

- Susan Weaver, Children Who Witness Violence Program Manager

The great moments happen when a caller agrees to receiving some form of help.

– Sabrina Kohls, Crisis Intervention Specialist

Allison was concerned when she saw her brother, Brandon, start making risky decisions and claim to have stopped taking his medication; he seemed to be hypervigilant and getting paranoid. She’d seen this happen before, and she remembered where it was usually headed – either with Brandon in the hospital or jail, or cycling for months through unmanaged symptoms struggling to get back to baseline. He’d attempted to take his own life before, and she was getting scared. In any event, these patterns almost always led to long-lasting consequences for Brandon. She decided to reach out to FrontLine Service’s Mobile Crisis Team to request someone call and check in on him.

“I would want the community to know that you don’t have to be suicidal to utilize [crisis] services. If it is a crisis for you, we will respond to it with care and empathy.”

Justin Antall is FrontLine Service’s Online Emotional Support Program Manager and has been working at the agency since 2014.

“Those in the public who have privilege should use it in the service of those without such privilege, and support community leaders and social policies that will address social determinants of mental health.”  - FrontLine Service Clinic Team

Donivan was in his late 20s and had hit a wall when it came to dealing with his symptoms of mental illness while also trying to find his path out of homelessness. Because of his circumstances and the nature of his symptoms, Donivan was experiencing many obstacles to initiating or maintaining treatment but wanted to find ways of bringing his symptoms to a more manageable level and establishing a more stable, secure, and improved quality of life. This turning point eventually brought him through the doors of FrontLine Service’s Integrated Care Clinic for the first time. 

When people are in crisis, someone must answer the call. But what happens when those who do the challenging work of responding to those in crisis and helping those who’ve experienced trauma begin to burn out and feel on the verge of crisis themselves? FrontLine Service now offers Resiliency Trainings for those in the emergency response and helping professions, lead by the combined expertise of intra-agency celebrity, Kim Kiley, and superstar FrontLine collaborator, Guy-Vincent.

“My favorite part of my job is interacting with the clients. I truly feel that I am making a difference when clients are excited to tell me about their wins, or they make it a priority to seek me out to update me on things they are working on. I know then I have created a safe space for them and that makes me proud. “

Anola Smith is a Clinical Coordinator for FrontLine Service. She has worked at FrontLine since 2017. 

Cleveland Mediation Center (CMC) begins a new chapter as an independent nonprofit organization this month, legally separating from FrontLine Service. We celebrate this tremendous accomplishment, which took over a year of diligent work and collaboration.   

The CMC is a community mediation center that has been resolving disputes and training community members in conflict resolution and mediation for more than 40 years. Founded in June 1981 as the Community Youth Mediation Program (CYMP), the primary focus was on at-risk youth. But the organization’s surveys revealed the at-risk youth overwhelmingly faced issues caused by homelessness and expanded their efforts to address those challenges. The organization began working with community partners in the early 1990s to prevent homelessness and began receiving funding to mediate eviction cases.

“It is an honor and privilege to be a part of the Frontline Service team! Together we are saving lives!” 

Laura Martovitz is the founder of the Ride for Life Poker Run event and has been involved in supporting FrontLine Service since 2017. 

“So many times our children are just talked to and not talked with, and we are talking with them, listening to them and holding everyone else in their world accountable to helping them and I’m really proud of that,” 

- Iris Goins, Supporting Children-TST Family Engagement Specialist. 

FrontLine Service takes the old adage “it takes a village to raise a child” literally, with many of our programs geared toward crisis and trauma support for children. FrontLine’s Supporting Children-TST program takes a multi-faceted approach to process everything happening simultaneously to children in their community. 

“I work at FrontLine Service because I love it!  FrontLine is a wonderful agency that specializes in helping people—from those less fortunate to those traumatized.  I enjoy my team—all of us are well-rounded and kind-hearted individuals who genuinely care for each other and the people we serve.   I care about this work because I care about people, especially children.” 

Mendi Carrington is a Trauma Systems Therapist for FrontLine Service. She has worked at FrontLine since April 2015.  

Parents are always thinking of their children: how to feed, clothe, teach, and comfort them. That pressure exponentially increases when you are also fleeing from an abusive partner with no support system. 

Jess needs somewhere to stay after living out of her car with her three children. The seats make uncomfortable beds, and she can only keep the heat running for so long before her battery runs out. It’s difficult to feel safe in a parking lot or garage, but it feels much safer to her than living another night with her abusive partner. 

“FrontLine’s work reaches so many individuals at some of the very worst times of their lives. FrontLine workers never turn their head, but rather do all they can to help. Connecting people to the resources without judgement is foundational to FrontLine’s work.” - Jeanine Nemecek

“I hold a deep concern for humanity and firmly believe that every individual deserves access to mental wellness resources and the hope it offers, especially during the darkest moments. FrontLine plays a crucial role in providing this to our community.” - Christine Oblak

Christine Oblak and Jeanine Nemecek are on the FrontLine Service board of directors. Jeanine has been involved with FrontLine since 2010 and Christine has been involved since 2016.

“Aligning with FrontLine Service was a natural and compelling choice due to our shared commitment to addressing societal challenges…Through collaboration, I’m privileged to play a role in advancing the collective mission of healing and empowerment.” 

Guy Vincent is a contemporary artist and art instructor who has been involved with FrontLine in art and community projects since 2018. 

On a bright but frigid Thursday afternoon, residents at Harper’s Pointe, a Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) site, gather in the community room to begin their monthly art workshop. Art instructor and local professional artist, Guy Vincent, introduces the activity of decorating small paper craft boxes, offering coloring supplies, old magazines, glue, and scissors to decorate the boxes however they like.

FrontLine Service has increased staffing for crisis chat and text services to respond to the growing number of individuals reaching out for help through messaging, especially adolescents and young adults. 

FrontLine’s Crisis team provides 24/7/365 support to people experiencing suicidal ideation, emotional distress, substance use challenges, or a mental health crisis. 

The road to mental health recovery is not a straight line. It takes many twists and turns, with success looking different for every person. When an individual’s condition changes, FrontLine staff do not give up but look for additional ways to support those who are struggling.

“I have been extremely fortunate to have stable housing and a strong support system throughout my entire life. I am a firm believer that everyone deserves to have safe housing where they truly feel at home.” 

Macayla Dowling is a case manager for Permanent Supportive Housing and has worked at FrontLine Service since June 2022. 

David considered the end of his 30-year prison sentence a starting line rather than a finish line.

After his release, David struggled to live in a world he hadn't seen in decades. He felt completely lost filling out online applications for jobs and housing and navigating the Internet and smartphones. However, he felt determined to rebuild his life after incarceration without relying on others.

How do you find someone who needs help but has no address or consistent phone number and experiences severe symptoms of mental illness? 

Randy, who had been unhoused for seven years, usually stayed at Public Square or by the tracks near West 25th Street. He was often nonverbal, he moved frequently, and he experienced hallucinations, delusions, depression, and mania.

“When they come through the door, in that moment, there is so much going on in their life that is all jumbled up in their head… you really don’t know where to start. North Point is where you can start over and find direction again.” 

-Treveya Franklin, North Point Operations Manager