For 50 years, Helping Services of Northeast Iowa has provided a much-needed service to the area. Since starting as a Luther College class project to the creation of Trouble Line, Decorah Information Service and now Helping Services, thousands of people in and around Decorah have benefited from the volunteers and staff members.
As a part of the golden anniversary year, Helping Services will be celebrated during an open house Saturday, April 22, at Impact Coffee in Decorah.
For the community
Karen Tjossem was a junior at Luther College in 1971. In a class, Tjossem and her classmates were asked to research whether the Decorah area would benefit from a crisis intervention center. At the time, there were a few centers in Iowa but not one in the Decorah area. The class talked to community members, the ministerial association, police department, hospital staff and doctors to determine if there was a need.
With the support of the community, the class determined there was a need for a crisis center. The next step was getting funding and a location. Local attorney Frank Miller anonymously donated his office space to the group. Next, the volunteers worked with mental health professionals in Iowa City for training.
“In the beginning we did a lot of information and referrals because we weren’t trained psychologists, and we weren’t trained to counsel. We were that first step people could take. It was nice to be able to connect with the community so we could send them in the right direction for what they needed,” said Tjossem.
On April 19, 1971, the group answered their first call as Trouble Line. It was primarily Luther volunteers who handled the phone lines, as well as some community members. In the first year, volunteers staffed the phone lines from 6 p.m. to midnight every night except the Christmas and Easter holidays. Over 400 calls were received in the first calendar year.
Shortly after opening, they formed a Board of Directors and became a 501(c)3 non-profit. Tjossem credits board member Larry Grimstad as being instrumental in getting the group started.
By 1974, things with Trouble Line were changing. Tjossem, who was still a volunteer, said many of the calls were related to drug abuse. They were able to receive funding from the Iowa Drug Abuse Authority. That money paid for things like training, phone lines and a library.
Phyllis Kadlec was the director of the Trouble Line. Tjossem said Kadlec was a “real go-getter who went out and made things happen.”
It was at this time that Trouble Line moved its headquarters to 215 E. Water Street. By then, it had grown in popularity, so they needed more space. Tjossem said in addition to the phone lines, they now had physical space for students to drop in and talk.
It also expanded its program offerings. It now was known as the Decorah Information Center, with a Drop-In Center and Telecheck, a service which called people in the evening to check in and chat.
A fire in 1975 forced the Information Center to relocate. Now housing the Drop-In Center at 108 W. Water Street, the name was changed to Helping Services of Northeast Iowa, Inc. in 1978. According to a Decorah Newspaper article in that year, the name was chosen to “accurately reflect the services provided and the geographic area served by the agency.” At that time, programs were offered to residents in Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties.
Amazing support
Tjossem said her time with the Trouble Line was something she’ll never forget, especially the support from the community.
“One of our big early contributors was Luther College President Dr. Farwell. It was nice to know he was supportive of it by his words, but he also gave donations to it,” she said. “The community supported it as well.”
Tjossem said it’s mind-boggling just how many people have been impacted by Helping Services in 50 years. She recalls one night early in the Trouble Line history when a woman called after taking a large amount of pills. Tjossem said through talking to the caller, she and Kadlec were able to discover where she lived and take her to the hospital.
It’s calls like that that made Tjossem realize just how valuable the resource was.
“Obviously it’s filled a huge need in different areas,” she said. “The absolutely amazing thing is the incredible number of people who have benefitted from the services and the coordination we’ve had with other agencies.
“My awe is that there are so many people who are caring over the years. Just think of all the volunteers over the years. Without the volunteers, none of this would have happened.”
Where they’re at today
Today, Helping Services, located at 805 E. Main St., has grown to benefit people in eight counties with distinct programs like youth mentoring, domestic abuse advocacy, family education and support and substance abuse prevention. They’ve grown to 26 full-time staff members, in addition to volunteers.
Ben Krouse-Gagne is the director of community engagement at Helping Services. He noted programming is a little bit different in each county. Staff at Helping Services give presentations within the school districts, work with community groups and hospitals and maintain the help line, among other tasks. In fact, Tjossem said the phone number that started Trouble Line remains one of the phone lines used at Helping Services.
“Helping Services is here for the reader, the people in the community. We’re flexible in that we can shift and change what we’re doing to address the greatest community needs. I think that’s what makes us unique. We’re not tied to one particular thing or another. We’re flexible and fluid in that aspect,” said Krouse-Gagne.
“It’s exciting to see the things that are going on and finding new ways for people to connect. Everything we do is to make our communities healthier and safer.”
Knowing the background of Helping Services, Krouse-Gagne said it truly speaks to the core of their philosophy.
“Our history was very grassroots. It’s been the people around, whether staff members or volunteers, have made everything possible at Helping Services. That’s a credit to everyone involved and that’s why it’s important to celebrate.”
Anniversary celebration
Krouse-Gagne invites the community to the Helping Services 50th anniversary celebration Saturday, April 22, from 6-8 p.m. at Impact Coffee, 101 W. Water Street. There will be a short program at 6:30 p.m., followed by a social hour. Anyone wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by calling 563-387-1720 or email info@helpingservices.org.
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