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Project Safety Netfor the well-being of Palo

Alto’s youth

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PSN Mission

Our mission is to develop and implement an effective, comprehensive community-based mental health plan for overall youth well-being in Palo Alto.

The plan includes education, prevention and intervention strategies that together provide a Safety Net for youth and teens in Palo Alto, and defines our community's teen suicide prevention efforts.

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Project Safety Net Members/PartnersAdolescent Counseling Services (ACS) Lucile Packard Children's Hospital

Cal Train Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Center for Sustainable Change Palo Alto University

Chamber of Commerce Parent Representatives

Children's Health Council Parks and Recreation Commission

City Community Services Dept. PAUSD

City Manager's Office Peninsula Interfaith Action

City Police Dept. Project Corner Stone

Community Center for Health and Wellness PTA Council

Health Care Alliance for Adolescent Depression (HEARD) Santa Clara County Health Dept.

Human Relations Commission Suicide Prevention Advocates

Kara - Grief Support & Education YMCA

Leaders of the Faith Community Youth and Teen Leadership Groups

Local Psychologists Youth Community Services (YCS)

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Search Institute - Developmental Assets - Five Community Action Steps

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A more intentional community network fostering youth well-being in Palo Alto

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www.PSNPaloAlto.org

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OutcomesAn engaged and activated community focused on fostering youth well-

being!

Adoption of the 41 Developmental Assets (City & PAUSD) Suicide Prevention Policies Adopted (City & PAUSD) Elevated Youth Voice Track Security Decreasing the stigma of mental health Hundreds of suicide prevention gatekeepers trained Media Partnership Non-Profit partners leveraging PSN collaboration for new funding Enhanced counseling opportunities for students Palo Alto High School - later start and block schedule All secondary schools have active School Climate Committees New and stronger relationships between agencies and committees

supporting youth well-being

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PSN - Strategic Next Steps:

PSN Mission clarity – transition from crisis response to sustainable social change for the well-being of youth

Clarity on priorities, timelines and metrics of pre-stated PSN goals

Organizational structure of PSN, protocols for decision making, number of committees and how they intersect. Organizational design to be mindful of limited District and City resources

A defined fiscal agent

Funding sources for PSN coordination and related programs and services

A communications plan for PSN to keep the community informed on progress and how they can get involved

A blueprint (or case study) for how a municipality can organize a grassroots effort for suicide prevention and support the social and emotional well-being of youth

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Sampling of Programmatic Next Steps for PSN: Developmental Assets Initiative Peer to peer counseling program - Sources of

Strength Gatekeeper training for teens Leverage social media Intramural sports for high school students Palo Alto Youth Forum Greater collaboration with Stanford's Challenge

Success Strengthen collaboration with private schools Community education to decrease the stigma

surrounding mental health

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PSN Executive CommitteeAmy Drolette (Co-Chair) PAUSD

Rob de Geus (Co-Chair) City Community Services

Ken Dueker City Police Department

Greg Hermann City Managers Office

Minka van der Zwaag City Community Services

Roni J. Gillenson Adolescent Counseling Services

Vic Ojakian Suicide Prevention Advocate

Cyndy Ainsworth Kara Grief Counseling

Shashank V. Joshi, MD Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital

Becky Beacom Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Pat Markevitch Parent Representative

Terry Godfrey PTA Council

Teen Representatives Palo Alto Youth Council