CommUnity Crisis Services facing major layoffs

CommUnity Crisis Services in Iowa City is planning 100 layoffs, effective Sept. 29. The layoffs occur as the organization’s contractor, Vibrant Emotional Health, declines to renew their contract. Vibrant Emotional Health, based out of New York City, administers the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. On Sept. 11, the organization informed CommUnity Crisis Services that they would not be renewing their contract, despite CCS having a high performance rate. “It’s unusual to lose a contract when you’re in good standing,” said Sarah Nelson, CEO of CCS, noting that they are appealing the decision.

The contract was procured on an annual basis, and CCS did not receive an award for the most recent Request for Proposal for a service they had provided to NSPL since 2012. As a result, CCS will only be answering 988 chat and text that originates from Iowans for state 988 services, as well as 988 national phone calls for the LGBTQIA+ subnetwork of 988. Ms. Nelson said the crisis lifeline will continue to operate and service the needs of community members, and that they are restructuring to absorb as many current employees into other programs as possible. Other vital programs, such as the food pantry, financial support, mobile crisis response, UI Emotional Support Line and State 988 will remain unaffected and continue to operate as normal. “The local community will not feel the impact,” said Ms. Nelson. The organization is losing 40 full-time employees and 60 part-time employees, with half the layoffs occurring outside of Iowa, and only a handful in eastern Iowa. CCS was able to save 38 positions and place them into other programs within the agency.