Program seeks to start 'hotline'

Efforts are under way to launch a new five-county hotline and non- profit substance abuse assessment agency in the area.

The non-profit organization, High Country Help Center, is expected to first start taking calls on a 'hotline' number and providing services in the fall of 2008.

The hotline will serve to help those in crisis situations or those seeking information and aid with a variety of personal and psychological needs.

The toll-free, 24-hour-a-day hotline number, which is being spearheaded by Sherry Cahn of Sparta, will mostly serve as an information and referral service in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Watauga and Wilkes counties. Such services already are offered in many areas of the country, including in Pennsylvania, where Cahn lived before returning to the area. Cahn researched hotlines for her master's degree thesis. From there, her interest in that area led her to develop a program for this area.

"I could see that there was a need here for this kind of a service and the project just got rolling from there," she said. All services through the hotline will be anonymous and provided free of charge.

"We can help provide all sorts of information for people through the hotline," said Cahn.

 

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