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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC03-208 The Colorado Trust Preventing Suicide in Colorado Initiative• The Colorado Trust • Preventing Suicide in Colorado Initiative Cover Sleet Legal title of applicant organization: Fiscal and Administrative Agent Eagle County Health and Haman Services Address: PO Box 660 Eagle, CO 81631 Phone: (970) 328-8858 Fax: (970) 328-6227 Email: Forinash ,e e-county.com Contact Person and Title: Kathleen Fo ' of Heal d Human Services Signature of Authorized Officer: Michael L,: Ga.~agh , Chairman Tax exempt status: N/A Eagle County Board of Commissioners Total amount of grant request: $5000 planning grant, $145,000 additional over grant period, for a total of $150,0[}0 Coordinating Agency: Eagle River Youth Coa{ition Address:291 Main Street PO Box 672 Minturn, CO 81645 Phone: (970) 827-5411 Fax: (970) 827-5412 Email: eryc(a,vail.net Contact Person and Title: Beth M Reilly MPH Youth Services Coordinator Signature of Authorized Officer '"'° Tax exempt status: 501 c 3not-for-profit Federal ID # 84159385 ~~ Organizational Overview r~ Fiscal and Administrative Agent: Eagle County Health & Human Services Mission and Goals: "to work in paztnership with the community of Eagle County, through education and direct services, to promote healthy life styles, assist families in achieving self- sufficiency, and protect individuals at risk of abuse, neglect and disease." Community partnerships around suicide prevention aze an identified goal for HHS in 2003 and 2004. Mission and goals are consistent with the initiative: The mission and goals of Eagle County HHS aze consistent with the Colorado Trust Suicide Initiative. The county has committed resources and leadership for the formation of the Eagle River Youth Coalition, and has invested in other community non-profits, including Colorado West Mental Health, to build a foundation of community based services for the people of Eagle County. The agency's approach to service planning is a collaborative one, focusing on the creation of community service systems that provide for prevention, eazly intervention, and treatment. Ability to manage the planning and implementation phases: Eagle County HHS has a history of community grants planning and implementation: Eazly Head Start, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program; Community Services Block Grant; Eazly Childhood Coaching and Consultation; Juvenile WRAP program; Public Health Bioterrorism planning and response; TANF Community Investment Grant program; and Eagle County Human Service Grant program. Organizational experience meet l2FP requirements: Eagle County Government has the financial and administrative infrastructure to assure compliance with the budgetary policies and requirements of The Colorado Trust. HHS Staff are trained in suicide prevention activities. Describe past related organizational activities: Community development and successful funding and implementation of the Eazly Head Start Program (1999) and Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (2000). Successful application and designation of the five county Rural Resort Region Child Care Consolidated Pilot. (2000) Convened community stakeholders to form the Eagle River Youth Coalition. (2001) Developed Inter-governmental agreements and created business partnerships to form the Eagle Valley Child Caze Association. (2001) Explain organization's commitment to cultural competency and diversity: Eagle County HHS has a staffthat is reflective of the linguistic and cultural makeup of the community. Staffparticipate in Cultural Competency training with outside facilitators on an annual basis. Coordinating Agent: Eagle River Youth Coalition (ERYC) Mission and Goals: "to assess and meet the changing needs of Eagle River youth through the youth serving organizations, by: • Identifying issues and mobilizing the community for positive change • Promoting the assets of youth and raising the level of youth esteem • Supporting coordination and collaboration • Enhancing resource development." • • Mission and goals are consistent with the initiative: The mission and goals of the ERYC are consistent with the initiative. Through the facilitation of the high school attitude and behavior survey, Eagle CARES, the issue of youth suicide ideation and depression has been identified as an area of concern for our community. Data shows our youth to be significantly worse than comparison groups. In the summer of 2002, 14 organizations collaborated at a planning meeting to address this issue. ERYC has made significant progress in meeting collective 2002-03 goals. The Colorado Trust Initiative will give our community the opportunity to develop an effective long-term plan and strategy to really tackle this issue. The Colorado Trust Initiative will provide resources to the community to enhance the work of suicide prevention. Through study of suicide prevention we have learned the importance of social competency skill building. Ability to manage the planning and implementation phases: The Eagle River Youth Coalition is recognized in the community as a coordinating, networking agency. The ERYC includes 20 members and 30 participating organizations. The community has confidence ERYC through the experience of another recent initiative: coordinating youth tobacco prevention and cessation and the development of consistent policies and consequences in relation to underage drinking. The ERYC is also known as an agency that "shares." The ERYC will be only one piece of this grant opportunity. Other organizations will be implementing the bulk of the programming. The ERYC will assure implementation, quality, and evaluation. Organizational experience meet IZFP requirements: The ERYC is eligible to apply for this initiative. We area 501 c 3 not for profit. We have strong community support as noted in early planning that included 14 organizations and by the attached letters of support and commitment. The ERYC includes 20 members and 30 additional participating organizations demonstrating our ability to develop strategic partnerships. The ERYC has knowledge of the mental health delivery system in the community. The director is on the Colorado West local advisory board and has relationships with four private mental health providers. The ERYC is the organization that completes the local resource assessment every other year and has knowledge of community resources and has as its mission to enhance their capacities. Describe past related organizational activities: Monthly networking meetings; 4 strategic planning sessions in 2002; participant in several collaborative grants; coordinating agency in 2002/03 CDPHE suicide prevention grant and 2003/04 Office of Transportation Safety grant; successful facilitation of community meetings. Ezplain organization's commitment to cultural competency and diversity: The ERYC director has taken extensive course work in cultural competency and diversity. ERYC has adopted an equal opportunity employment policy: The Eagle River Youth Coalition is willing and eager to work in partnership with the Colorado Trust, the Statewide Coordinating Agency and the evaluation contractor in the management, implementation and evaluation of the initiative. • • Administrative Structare: Planning base: The Eagle River Youth Coalition will be the coordinating agency. The ERYC will coordinate/ facilitate planning meetings, assure broad participation, keep records and minutes, and assure follow up from each participating organization. The ERYC will track expenses and submit reports, receipts, invoices to Eagle County HHS. The ERYC will be the liaison to the Colorado Trust in the direct work of suicide prevention planning, prevention and evaluation. Eagle County Health & Human Services will be the fiscal and administrative agent and will pay invoices and reimbursements. HHS will, with the help of the ERYC, submit the required reports to the Colorado Trust in a timely basis. Eagle County Health & Human Services will be the liaison to the Colorado Trust for matters of a fiscal or administrative nature. Eagle County Health & Human Services also has much to offer in the area of suicide prevention and will participate in the planning process. Other partner organizations will have the Eagle River Youth Coalition as a primary liaison through the planning process. Implementation phase: To be determined through the planning phase. It is anticipated that The Eagle River Youth Coalition will have the role of assuring coordination, collaboration, and communication between all the organizations working through the grant process on suicide prevention in Eagle County. The ERYC will assure. integration of services and a systematic approach. In addition, because of the training of the director of the ERYC, it is anticipated that the ERYC will take a lead role in both awareness raising events and gatekeeper trainings. It is anticipated that Eagle County Health & Human Services will act as fiscal agent for a number of organizations engaged in suicide prevention activities. It is anticipated that many organizations will increase their capacity to serve those at risk of suicide with the resources provide by the Trust. Eagle County HHS will act as liaison for the funds and assure that each project is implemented with fiscal integrity. In addition, because of the training of HHS staff in suicide prevention, it is anticipated that the HHS will take a lead role in both awareness raising events and gatekeeper trainings. Other partner organizations: It is anticipated that partner organizations will increase their capacity for social competency skill building, violence prevention, provision of mental health services, and policy development. Those that need additional resources will subcontract with the county to receive Colorado Trust Funds. The decision regarding funds and funding will be made collectively through the planning process, not solely by the fiscal agent. The partner organizations will meet and discuss their progress. periodically through opportunities provided by the Eagle River Youth Coalition in order to assure a systematic process is maintained throughout the grant period. • • Planning Process In the spring of 2000 the first high school attitude and behavior survey, Eagle CARES, was completed. Suicide ideation and depression were noted as issues of concern for local youth. 21 persons gathered in a task force to address the issue. This group coordinated a "Wellness Fair" for high school youth in the spring of 2001. In addition, ECSD policy in regards to suicide and depression was reviewed. In the fall of 2001 the high school attitude and behavior survey, Eagle CARES was repeated. Unfortunately, the areas of suicide and depression continued to show alarming results. Eagle County youth continued to fare worse than comparison groups in this issue. Thus, in the summer of 2002 a facilitated strategic planning process was initiated. This resulted in setting goals for the remainder of 2002 and into 2003. This work assisted the ERYC in writing a successful grant application to the CDPHE Office of Suicide Prevention. In addition, the CDPHE Office of Suicide Prevention recognized our community's thirst for more information and resources and provided additional guidance, and training opportunities. The result of this planning lead to 5 awareness events and a youth action research project looking further into the local causes of youth depression. In addition two Eagle County residents are now tra_ fined to provide the Living Works trainings "ASIST" and "Suicide TALK." Under the leadership and encouragement of the CDPHE Office of Suicide Prevention the community started contemplating a long term planning process. We have athree-page template and some good ideas on paper. However there is a lot more work to do. The Colorado Trust's support is needed in order to make our plan effective, measurable, integrated and more.: Samples of areas and questions to be addressed in the planning process include: • How to market and find audiences for the ASIST and Suicide TALK trainings? • What do we do with the information and results from the youth action research project? • How do we develop integrated systems between agencies? • What does "Keep Safe" really mean in our community? • How can community members effectively, consistently, expeditiously and compassionately transfer care of those contemplating suicide or attempting suicide to mental health professionals? • Should we have one point of entry for those in crisis or multiple points? How will these points connect? • Do our current youth services agencies cover skill building, violence prevention and the development of support systems effectively? Do these programs need to be enhanced? Or do we need another specific program such as Yellow Ribbon? • Is a crisis phone line an option for our community? Eagle County Health & Human Services and the Eagle River Youth Coalition are very interested in participating in a planning process. The decisions needed surrounding suicide prevention are important. Our goal is to have a planning process that will lead us towards a plan that is effective and sustainable in the long term. Our community will welcome the Colorado Trust's experience and expertise in moving our community forward in the planning process. • There maybe challenges in the planning process. One challenge is that folks in our community aze very busy. Sometimes it is difficult to attend meetings. We plan to meet this challenge by providing yummy foods at the meetings. This is always an increased incentive for participation. In addition, in our planning budget we will reserve some resources for stipends for those individuals or organizations that don't have the financial resources to pay their staff to attend. Key stakeholders that continue to have difficulty attending group meetings will be met with individually or through on site, small, task oriented meetings. Furthermore, some aze reluctant to participate in meetings if they don't see the process moving forward. We will build a reputation for starting and ending meetings on time and each meeting will require some homework for the participants. This will increase buy-in and enthusiasm for the process. The coordinating agency, the Eagle River Youth Coalition, will assure that homework is followed up on. Finally, the already existing networking group and a-mail list serve of 200 will assure that the information reaches the broader community. The following is a list of organizations that will participate in the planning process and, likely, the implementation of suicide prevention activities. Their commitment to the process is noted in the attached letters of support: Eagle County Government: Fiscal and Administrative Agent, Gatekeeper trainings Eagle River Youth Coalition: Coordinating agency, Awazeness events, Gatekeeper trainings Colorado West Mental Health: Building capacity in mental health services Policy and Procedures, Memorandums of Understanding Pazenting Classes Local Private Therapists: Building capacity in mental health services CSU Cooperative Extension: Social Capital/ 40 Developmental Assets Trainings Pazenting Classes Youth social competency building programs Colorado Mountain College: Pazenting Classes Municipal Law Enforcement: Policy and Procedures, Memorandums of Understanding County Law Enforcement: Policy and Procedures, Memorandums of Understanding Vail Valley Medical Center: Policy and Procedures, Memorandums of Understanding Eagle County School District: Survey implementation Pazenting classes Policy and Procedures, Memorandums of Understanding Youth social competency building programs Meet the Wilderness: Youth social competency building programs Parenting classes Snowboard Outreach Society: Youth social competency building programs Girl Scouts of Chipeta Council: Youth social competency building programs The Red Ribbon Project: Pazenting classes (Spanish) The Literacy Project: Youth social competency building programs The Youth Foundation: Youth social competency building programs The Vail Religious Foundation; (A coalition of churches in Eagle County) awazeness raising activities, gatekeeper trainings Inventory of Resources The geographic area to be served primarily is within the boundaries of the Eagle County School District. The Eagle County School District includes the towns/ townships of Red Cliff, Minturn, Vail, Eagle-Vail, Avon, Edwards, Wolcott, Bond, McCoy, Eagle; Gypsum and Dotsero. The towns of El Jebel and Basalt, located in Eagle County but served by the Roaring Fork School District, will also be included but on a more limited basis due to geographical barriers and varying community affiliations. The primary tazget population to be served is youth. This population has been selected due to the results of the 2001 Eagle CARES high school attitude and behavior survey. • Twenty seven percent of all surveyed Eagle County youth (36% of females) report they felt so depressed that they considered suicide (19% all youth nationally; 25% of females nationally) • Nine percent of all surveyed Eagle County youth (15% of females) report that they have attempted suicide. (8% nationally; 11% of females nationally) • Thirty percent of surveyed Eagle County youth report that in the past year they have felt depressed or sad most days. (28% nationally) Eagle County has grown rapidly. The Eagle County current population is about 43,000, an increase of 90% from 1990 to 2000. Twenty-three percent of the population is under the age of 18 and 23% of the population is Hispanic. Nearly one-quarter of Eagle County students aze enrolled in second language acquisition programs. Eagle County's population growth impacts youth directly. Housing and childcare aze scarce and expensive. The cost of living is higher than the cost of living in the Metro area and in Colorado at lazge. Seventy-two percent of mothers work outside the home. There is a significant gap between those with financial resources and those without. Eagle County has transitioned from a rural ranching community to a suburban community in just a couple of decades. As a consequence, there aze limited traditional and multigenerational support systems. Transciency is another factor that makes it difficult for youth to connect with adults and peers. Pazents aze stretched with the demands of working several jobs and long hours to pay for essential needs. Time with children is limited and often stressed. The Eagle River Youth Coalition completed a resource and gaps analysis in 2001. Noted Here is a condensed version. Pazent Trainin~s resources: CSU Extension, Mommies and Me, WIC, Love and Logic, Head Start, Early Head Start, Walking the Talk, La Rasa, Red Ribbon Project Pazent Traininas Qaus: parents of middle school and high school age, Spanish parenting is limited.. Short Term Crisis Intervention resources: Health & Human Services, WRAP, Catholic Charities, Colorado West, Resource Center, CASA, Salvation Army • Short Term Crisis Intervention gauss Counseling need exceeds capacity. Only two bilingual counselors in county. Family Literacy resources: The Literacy Project Family Literac aus: Interest exceeds capacity in Spanish speaking community. Not available to English speakers. Conflict Resolution/ Violence Prevention in schools resources: Violence prevention program at one high school, "adopt a homeroom" with Vail Police department Conflict Resolution/ Violence Prevention in schools gauss Violence prevention program at lof 5 high schools. Adopt a homeroom at lof 8 elementary schools School Behavior Management Strategies resources: Chazacter Counts. in elementary schools and Botkin Life Skills available for 3`~ and 4~' graders at public schools. School Behavior Management Strategies gaps: Inconsistency between schools School Organizations resources: Plentiful. Active, bilingual PTAs and PTSA. Extra_Support for academic success resources: The Literacy Project (tutoring), The Youth Foundation (academic soccer club, computer giveaways, book mobile and more) Extra Support for academic success gaps: interest and need exceeds capacity, not available at high school level Classroom learning resources: woodshop, autoshop, mechanics, broadcasting, computers, piano, symphonic band, sting instruments, concert, choir, plant sciences, community service, vocational training, physical education, team leadership, cooking, art. In addition, The Gore Range Natural Science school provides outdoor natural science and environmental education. Peer counseling resources: One high school, one middle school Peer counseling gauss Availability uneven, lack of training on suicide intervention. Youth vocational training and employment resources: Colorado Workforce, Cazeer Counts, Cazeer fair, Colorado Mountain College Youth vocational training and employment gaps: Colorado Workforce strict edibility excludes many. Cazeer Counts funding ended June 2003. Youth Service resources: Snowboard Outreach Society- service component, EPYCS (youth philanthropy boazd) program, Rotary's Moving Mountains Program Youth Service; gnus: continued difficulty matching youth with ongoing projects Mentoring; resources: The Buddies Program Mentoring gars: Need exceeds capacity After School Programs; resources: Babysitting basics class, 4H, Vail Recreation District, Avon Recreation District, WECMRD, sports, scouting, school based clubs. • C~ After School Pro~,rams; gaps: costs exclude many, unevenly available across county, transportation issues Spiritually based programs; resources: Young Life, individual church youth programs Health Prevention Programs: resources: Red Ribbon Project (HIV/ AIDS prevention), Meet the Wilderness (Life Skills- outdoor adventure education, Voices Carry program for girls), Living Works ASIST trainers Health Prevention Programs: gaps: social norming messages, unevenly available, not always accessible for Spanish speakers, difficulty finding audiences for suicide prevention activities. Barriers to accessing services and resources: Although there appear to be many resources, the service capacity is limited and targeting participation to the youth population most at risk has been difficult. Youth continue to fall between the cracks. Barriers to building capacity and targeting participation include program costs, staff and volunteer resources, transportation, language barriers, ineffective marketing (in Spanish and English), and distance to the programs. ~ ~ Technical Assistance and Networking Eagle County HHS and Eagle River Youth Coalition are open to and willing to receive technical assistance from The Colorado Trust for the planning and implementation of an Eagle County Suicide Prevention Initiative. Technical Assistance will be of value to the community: - By identifying stakeholders and assuring that all stakeholders have an opportwuty to participate in the initiative. - In identifying best practices and model programs. - By encouraging and facilitating collaborative program development and shared funding for program sustainability. - By assisting in the development of community messages that promote prevention and early intervention. - Facilitating the development of community service systems that will support referrals and ongoing services. Eagle County HHS and Eagle River Youth Coalition will actively participate in networking activites for the Eagle County Suicide Prevention Initiative and the Preventing Suicide in Colorado Initiative. Community networking is of value to both HHS and ERYC because: - Networking assures participation, commitment and investment in the initiative. - Networking brings ideas, issues, and resources to the table. - Networking opens doors for non-traditional partners. - Networking encourages volunteer participation. - Networking promotes community solutions and options. Preventing Suicide in Colorado Initiative Networking will be of value to HHS and ERYC because: - Networking will provide opportunities to share successful strategies and avoid pitfalls that other communities may have encountered. - Networking will provide an environment for training and exploring best practices. - Networking supports "mutual mentoring" among grantees, thereby establishing long- term professional supports and connections. - Networking may open the door to broader, multi-community involvement throughout Colorado around issues of suicide prevention. - Networking results in unexpected positive synergy. - Networking is a fun thing to do! C Budget Description and Justification Eagle County Planning Budget: October 1, 2003 -March 31, 2004 Personnel Trust Su ort A licant Su ort Total Bud et Sala Frin a Sala Fria a Sala Frin e ERYC Director 2600 625 -0- -0- 2600 625 HHS Director -0- -0- 2264 679 2264 679 HHS AFS Marna er -0- -0- 1647 494 1647 494 HHS D erations M -0- -0- 621 186 621 186 Sub-Total Personnel $3225 $ 5891 $ 9116 O erations Trust Su ort A licant Su ort Total Bud et Rent -0- 600 600 Su lies & materials -0- 300 300 Printrn & co in -0- 300 300 Tel hone -0- 120 120 Posta a -0- 100 100 Sta Travel 475 207 682 Meetin Ex eases 1300 -0- 1300 Utilities Not Calculated Not Calculated Not Calculated O ce Su lies -0- 60 60 Sub-Total Operations $1775 $1687 $ 3462 TOTAL BUDGET Trust Applicant Total PLANNING PHASE $5000 $ 7578 $12,578 Explanation of Costs: Personnel - ERYC Director: 4hours/week @ $20 - HHS Director: 2hours/week @ $43.53 - AFS Manager: 2hours/week @ $31.67 - HHS Operations Mgr: 1hour/week @ $23.87 Operations - Rent: Community meeting space 12 @ $50 - Supplies & materials: publications; AV purchased for community partners - Printing & copying: $ 50/month; provided by the county - Telephone: Portion of ERYC phone cost $ 20/month - Postage: Business postage provided by county - StaffTravel: ERYC 1377 miles @ .345; HHS staff 600 miles @ .345 each - Meeting Expenses: Food for six meetings $ 500; Stipends for consumers and community partners 32 @ $25. All Suicide Prevention trust expenditures will be accounted for separately by the Grantee. In- kind expenses will be documented for reporting to The Colorado Trust.