The Listening Ear
Encyclopedia
The Listening Ear Crisis Intervention Center of East Lansing, Michigan
is the oldest all volunteer crisis center operating in the United States
. The Listening Ear Crisis Intervention Center has been open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year since July 15, 1969 and has served more than 300,000 phone and walk-in clients. It provides free and confidential service for telephone
and walk-in clients in crisis. It also provides free sexual assault
counseling, advocacy and community education to survivors of sexual assault and their significant others.
. The program ran for 40 hours (this quickly grew into the 65+ hour training of today).
The founders decided that they would stay open if they received at least 100 calls each month for the first three months. They received more than 1500. The annual operating budget was about $6000.
In July 1976, The Rape Counseling program, (the forerunner of the Sexual Assault Counseling program), was established, providing free, short-term counseling to rape
survivors as well as advocacy and community education (see rape crisis center).
On April 13, 1990, The Listening Ear was named the 113th of 1000 Points of Light for its "Outstanding efforts in behalf of [the] community" by President George H. W. Bush
.
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
is the oldest all volunteer crisis center operating in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Listening Ear Crisis Intervention Center has been open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year since July 15, 1969 and has served more than 300,000 phone and walk-in clients. It provides free and confidential service for telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
and walk-in clients in crisis. It also provides free sexual assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
counseling, advocacy and community education to survivors of sexual assault and their significant others.
History
The Listening Ear opened its doors at 547 East Grand River on July 15, 1969. The first training session was designed by Dr. Dozier Thornton, a psychology professor from Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. The program ran for 40 hours (this quickly grew into the 65+ hour training of today).
The founders decided that they would stay open if they received at least 100 calls each month for the first three months. They received more than 1500. The annual operating budget was about $6000.
In July 1976, The Rape Counseling program, (the forerunner of the Sexual Assault Counseling program), was established, providing free, short-term counseling to rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
survivors as well as advocacy and community education (see rape crisis center).
On April 13, 1990, The Listening Ear was named the 113th of 1000 Points of Light for its "Outstanding efforts in behalf of [the] community" by President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
.