Funds needed for Suicide Prevention program for Shorewood, Shorecrest

Friday, October 6, 2017



The Shoreline PTA Council, the PTSAs for Shorewood and Shorecrest, and the Shoreline School District are partnering with Forefront in School to bring their suicide prevention program to the Shoreline School District high schools this fall.

The program includes training for all school community members, creation or expansion of crisis protocols, social/emotional learning support and more.

The Forefront Program will be funded completely by private donations and your support is needed.  Contributions are tax deductible. The cost is $25,000/year to cover both schools, and it is a 3 year program.

The School District, school leadership and staffs at both high schools are fully on board with (and excited about) this program.

To support the Forefront in Schools Shoreline School District program, Donate here

Contributions are tax deductible. The cost is $25,000/year to cover both schools, and it is a 3 year program. Any funds raised over this first year will automatically be applied to years 2 and 3.

Suicide among youth is a serious public health, mental health and community-based problem. In fact, suicide is the second leading cause of death in Washington State for youth ages 10-24.

Twice as many young people die by suicide than by homicide in Washington State and we lose two youth to suicide each week on average. The suicide rate in Washington State has been increasing steadily since 2006.

Shoreline high schools have elected to participate in a 3-year cohort of 16 area schools with Forefront, an organization connected with the University of Washington and a leader in suicide prevention and education. Forefront in the Schools (FIS) will assist in a comprehensive review, developing systematic supports and providing community education promoting mental health and suicide prevention.

The FIS program uses a “train the trainer” model for students, parents, faculty, and staff to help prevent suicide. This reduces the stigma of mental illness and makes schools safer, more welcoming, healthier environments where everyone can thrive. The program also supports policy enhancement, social/emotional learning, and leadership opportunities for students and builds community by engaging leadership across groups because everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention.

Forefront’s LEARN™ curriculum has been reviewed and approved by the Shoreline School District.



3 comments:

Anonymous,  October 7, 2017 at 7:30 AM  

This shouldn't be a fundraiser. Our district spends a lot on things that are less important.

Lisa Surowiec,  October 8, 2017 at 9:49 PM  

This was brought to the District by parents and community members. They are supporting it as an important program, but one that has not been budgeted for. We appreciate both their support and for their acknowledgement that this opportunity to join the 3-year cohort came before any funds could be committed from the budget. Hopefully, the community agrees that this is important, and we can all fund it together.

Anonymous,  October 10, 2017 at 8:03 PM  

Lisa,

1) There should be a process for curriculum adoptions. Having parents bring a curriculum to the district is not a process.

2) Local surrounding districts have suicide prevention programs that they have developed and have their counselors teach. Their programs are effective, far less expensive and sustainable over the years.

3) Personally, I think this program out of UW is unreasonably expensive and it's a shame that UW is charging this much to local districts.

As a PTA member, I am not interested in supporting this program. I think we need a suicide prevention program, but not this one. I look forward to a true curriculum adoption process taking place.

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