BerksTALKLINE's History

Berks County mirrors national trends in the areas of child abuse and neglect, drug and alcohol use, suicide, self-image and self esteem problems, physical violence, gangs, loneliness, and social/emotional problems.

In 1989, a consortium of Berks County leaders from school districts, civic organizations, social service agencies, and business leaders surveyed more than 1,000 students and school personnel. The results of the survey indicated that school personnel supported the concept of a local telephone hotline as an effective means to provide children with confidential support, and referral. 80% of students surveyed also agreed this concept would work.

Based upon the results of two years extensive research, the consortium decided to found BerksTALKLINE, as a model program designed to provide service to the county’s youth through telephone access. The program began operation on October 15, 1990.

After looking at statistical usage of TALKLINE, the Board of Directors realized that many adults also used the service. A year was spent surveying local agencies to see if they felt it feasible to begin a similar service for adults. Our community contacts overwhelmingly agreed a service for adults was needed in our community. BerksTALKLINE for Adults phone lines opened on January 5, 1998. Initially, hours of operation were 3 pm - 11 pm. On July 11, 2005 the hours were expanded to 11 am - 11 pm.

Program Goals

• to provide a service that will give individuals the opportunity to discuss concerns and problems with a trained person in a confidential manner
• to operate a telephone listening service for people that is accessible seven days a week from 11 am - 11 p.m.
• to provide a referral service for people with personal concerns and emergencies
• to provide 40 hours of intensive training to all people manning the phone lines
• to promote the service to people so the BerksTALKLINE number is readily available for their use through the distribution of BerksTALKLINE literature (stickers, brochures, bookmarkers, business cards): through paid advertising and through local media
• to conduct monthly and yearly assessments of the program’s effectiveness by collecting and calculating statistics relating to number of calls and characteristics of callers, categories of problems discussed, disposition of calls, number and type of referrals, service assessment, and geographic distribution for callers.