The Community Role Players
What audiences say about the SPCS Role Players:
“What a great way to explore heavy issues!”
“We were all impressed by how real the scenarios felt.”
“The role play provoked thoughtful insights on the part of the audience.”
Our popular ensemble, the SPCS Role Players, uses interactive theater to help audiences talk about difficult issues impacting their lives. The ensemble consists of trained role players from the ages of 14 to 90 who perform lively role plays that illuminate issues and engage audiences.
Problematic situations are brought to life by the role players who remain in character throughout the program. Through a process of skilled facilitation, the role players and the audience interact with each other. The audience gains new insights and acquires useful tools to effectively solve the problems they face in their own lives.
In 2001, SPCS Role Players recently received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Peacemaker Award from the Community Dispute Resolution Center for commitment to the non-violent solution of problems.
Fees for programs are on an affordable sliding scale. Please contact us at 607-272-1505 to find out how you can schedule or become a Role Player!
Programs for Schools and Community Groups
The Education Program of Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service provides a range of programs on preventing suicide and violence towards other
- intervening effectively during crises coping with trauma and grief
- resolving conflict
- dealing with work and school stress
- overcoming bias
- addressing substance abuse
- coping with self-injur
- improving other life difficulties
Programs are interactive in format and designed to increase knowledge, skills, competence and confidence. We prepare each presentation individually to fill the needs of a particular audience and particular issue. Some of our audiences include:
- schools and colleges
- senior citizens
- parent groups
- civic organizations
- businesses
- correctional facilities
- human service agencies
- religious organizations
- mental health professionals
Trainings -- See Events Page for schedules
SafeTALK: Suicide Awareness Training
In three hours, through discussion, short video dramas, and practice, participants become an important part of our community’s suicide prevention program. SafeTALK teaches how to identify persons with thoughts of suicide, how to ask about suicidal thoughts and how to connect people with the help they need. The workshop is a component of LivingWorks, a world-renowned suicide prevention system that has been adopted by the Suicide Prevention Initiatives of NY-OMH and the United States Air Force and many other communities. SafeTALK is an excellent introduction to suicide intervention, a great stepping stone to full suicide intervention training, also offered by SPCS on a regular basis.
ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
ASIST is designed to help all caregivers become more willing, ready and able to help persons at risk for suicide. Just as CPR skills make physical first aid possible, training in suicide intervention develops the skills used in suicide first aid. ASIST is a two-day intensive, interactive and practice-dominated course designed to help caregivers recognize risk and learn how to intervene to lessen the immediate risk of suicide.
Community Resource Library
A community resource library with books for all ages on crisis, trauma, suicide, homicide, depression, self-injury and grief is also available through this program. Community members may access the SPCS Lending Library by calling 607-272-1505 to schedule an appointment.
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