DELAWARE — HelpLine is navigating its second executive leadership change in less than two years, announcing a new interim director as the organization works through a broader succession plan.
The nonprofit’s board appointed Jason Bridges to serve as long-term interim executive director, effective March 30.
Bridges is expected to remain in the role for at least six months while the board determines next steps in its leadership succession plan, according to Marketing and Development Director Tamika Vinson-Reid.
The appointment comes following the resignation of former Executive Director Dr. Tonia Pace earlier this month. Since then, Associate Director Lauren MacDade has been serving as interim executive director to maintain continuity of operations.
Pace held the role for just over a year before announcing her resignation. Before her, Sue Hanson led the organization for 29 years.
Vinson-Reid said the board began planning for leadership transitions about two years ago and is focused on maintaining stability during the process.
“Being a very core service to our community, we want to make sure nothing would interrupt our ability to provide those key services,” she said.
“We are a stable organization. We’ve been around for 56 years. we have a good handle on being able to navigate change.”
More about Bridges
According to a press release, the HelpLine Board of Directors partnered with Benefactor, a nonprofit executive search firm, to identify Bridges for the interim role. He will serve in a part-time capacity of up to 32 hours per week.
“We are pleased to welcome Jason Bridges to HelpLine during this important time,” Chair of the board Teri Meider said in the release.
“His experience in nonprofit executive leadership and demonstrated success in behavioral health and organizational growth will provide valuable guidance as we continue to advance our mission and support our staff, partners, and community.”
Bridges brings more than 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, including leadership roles in community-based and behavioral health organizations, according to the release.
He served for nearly three years as executive director of Fairwinds, Nantucket’s community behavioral health center, where he expanded the organization’s budget from $2.6 million to more than $5 million, according to the release.
In that role, Bridges built partnerships with healthcare providers, law enforcement and local government to improve access to care.
Bridges also recently served as the director of development at Lake Erie College and previously owned three businesses in Nantucket.
His background includes expertise in organizational development, financial stewardship, community partnership building and crisis response systems.
He has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Wabash College and completed the certificate program in nonprofit leadership and management at Tufts University.
In addition to his professional experience, Bridges has served on boards supporting domestic violence prevention and has volunteered with Meals on Wheels. He lives in Kirtland with his wife, Courtney, and their two daughters.
“HelpLine has a strong reputation for serving individuals and families with care, compassion, and excellence, and I look forward to working alongside the staff and Board to ensure continued stability and impact,” Bridges said in the release.
What is HelpLine?
HelpLine offers crisis intervention and prevention resources by connecting people with community resources via its 24/7 hotline, service centers and prevention programs.
The nonprofit social services agency serves residents in eight counties in Ohio, putting people in touch with other agencies and organizations that can address their needs, including food assistance resources, disaster relief, substance use disorder services and more.
“When everyone else is closed, we’re open.”
Vinson-Reid
HelpLine started as a hotline — then called Help Anonymous — for single pregnant mothers in 1970s, housed in a one-room office above Buns Restaurant.
Eventually, the hotline merged with an Ohio Wesleyan University phone line after recognizing the single mothers had more needs outside of their pregnancies.
It merged again with a Morrow County entity in the 1990s and evolved into HelpLine, which now serves 20,000 people a year in crisis support through its 45 staff members, Vinson-Reid said.
“We’re best known for our hotline,” she said.
HelpLine is one of four agencies in the state that answers 211, which connects people to resources, the suicide crisis hotline 988 phone number and the crisis center 1800 number.
The organization also provides prevention education in Morrow and Delaware County schools on topics including partner violence, bullying, decision making and leadership empowerment.
“We do prevention, intervention and postvention,” Vinson-Reid said.
