First Call for Help was originally established in Itasca County in 1974 as the “Nightingale Help Line”. This concept was created by a Coordinating Committee made up of representatives from several Itasca County community agencies who identified unmet resourcing needs and believed in the premise that “Information gives people power”. This dedicated committee’s work (Patricia Cortese, Dorthy Olds, Bernie Schumacher, Bill Pedersen, Marie Tinnesand, Jim Hedin, and Sherry Giles) resulted in the building of an incredible foundation that remains today.

Through the decades, this agency has continued to grow and adapt to ever changing waters and societal climates. The Nightingale Phone line was the original foundation from 1974 to 1986, at which time the spectrum of community needs grew and it transitioned into a non-profit named First Call for Help in 1986.

In 1999 it rose to another challenge and entered into a “2-1-1 Call Center Hub” partnership with MN United Way and became First Call for Help / 2-1-1. This agreement expanded its information and referral coverage area to seven North Central counties while continuing to provide phone crisis intervention, and dispatching of the Itasca County Crisis Response Team. Dedicated volunteers, community members, funders, and invested community agencies have graciously partnered with our agency throughout the years and are the pillars on which we still stand today.