Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Youth Suicide Prevention & Intervention Symposium


Register online: https://events.egov.com/eventreg/CO/registrant.htm?action=new&_event=yspis2018
Or visit the CSSRC trainings page for more information Colorado.gov/CSSRC/trainings

2018 *updated* Family-Friendly Workplace Toolkit


Employers play a critical role in the lives of their employees. After all, the average person in the United Sates spends 8.9 hours a day at work.[1] Employees in every stage of life should feel supported in the workplace.

The 2018 *updated* Family-Friendly Workplace Toolkit highlights employers who are leading efforts to ensure their workplaces support the lives of their employee, shares best practices, and defines the components of a family-friendly workplace.

Those who work to prevent child fatalities in Colorado can also work towards incorporating family-friendly workplace policies and practices. We encourage you to read more about what other organizations are doing on the Family-Friendly Workplace Toolkit as well as encourage your organization to take the Health Links Family-Friendly Assessment.

Together we can work to reduce work-life stress and ensure that employees feel supported!

[1] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2017). Charts from the American Time Use Survey. Retrieved from: http://www.bls.gov/tus/charts/

Training Opportunity: From Positive Youth Development to Social Justice Youth Development


December 14, 12:00-1:00pm Mountain Time
Description
Positive youth development (PYD) is the preeminent theory and practice model for working with youth. In positive youth development, adults and communities seek to strengthen known protective factors among young people so that young people can thrive and become productive adults.

Social Justice Youth Development (SJYD) goes a step further to address the social and economic forces (racism, classism, sexism, adultism, homophobia, xenophobia, ableism) that oppress young people and complicate “normative” developmental patterns. Social justice youth development incorporates many aspects of positive youth development (knowledge and skill building), and also acknowledges and leverages youth’s experiences with discrimination, inequality, and negative stereotypes. A goal of SJYD is to understand power, privilege, and oppression in order to disrupt existing power structures and advocate for transformative change.

As a result of this webinar, participants will be able to describe two theories (PYD and SJYD) and consider their similarities, and differences.

Given the diversification of youth and communities, a SJYD framework is an important consideration to achieving health equity and justice for and with young people.

Learning Objectives
  • Describe positive youth development and social justice youth development theory
  • Explain similarities and differences between PYD and SJYD

Regional Positive Youth Development Training System (PYD-TS)

Are you looking for a Positive Youth Development training in your area? The regional Positive Youth Development Training System (PYD-TS) has formally launched with an exceptional group of regional trainers in the regions below excited to get started!

Region 1: Northwest Colorado
Eagle River Youth Coalition
Michelle Stecher
mstecher@eagleyouth.org
970-949-9250

Region 5: Southwest Colorado
School Community Youth Collaborative
Cindy Houston
chouston@scyclistens.org
970-394-9183

Region 8: Southeast Colorado
Boys & Girls Clubs of Pueblo County
Becky Medina
beckym@bgcpueblo.org
719-564-0055 ext. 111


If you would like to be trained, please contact these organizations directly. If there is a request outside of these regions, or the regions themselves do not have the capacity to fulfill a request, please contact Lorin Scott-Okerblom at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (Lorin.Scott-Okerblom@state.co.us). 


Wednesday, November 22, 2017

CDPHE is Hiring!

The Violence and Injury Prevention - Mental Health Promotion Branch at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is hiring 3 full-time positions. Please see details below and share these opportunities widely!

Community Outreach Specialist (#800)
Classification: Public Health and Community Outreach III
Job Location: Denver, CO
Close Date: December 5, 2017  OR until we have identified an adequate applicant pool (i.e., 50 qualified applications).

TO APPLY:  Community Outreach Specialist (#800)


​Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator (#1981)
​​Classification: ​Public Health and Community Outreach Professional III​
​​Job Location: Denver, CO
​​Close Date: ​Announcement will remain open until December 3, 2017 and will not be based on how many qualified applications are received.

TO APPLY: ​​Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator (#1981)​


Communities That Care Coordinator (#1677)
Classification: Public Health and Community Outreach III
Job Location: Denver, CO
Close Date: December 7, 2017  OR until we have identified an adequate applicant pool (i.e., 50 qualified applications).

TO APPLY:  Communities That Care Coordinator (#1677)


Monday, November 13, 2017

Child Maltreatment Prevention - Community Planning Awards Announced


Fifteen Colorado communities were awarded funding and technical assistance to engage in an eight-month local participatory planning process using the Colorado Child Maltreatment Prevention Framework for Action (Framework). The Framework is designed as a tool to guide strategic thinking, align strategies, and maximize shared outcomes to prevent child maltreatment and promote child well-being at the state and local level. The Framework will guide community planning to mobilize action that protects children, and then track implementation and measure progress. This initiative is generously supported by the Colorado Department of Human Services and the ZOMA Foundation.

The community planning process requires cross-system collaboration, and local planning teams must bring participation from a variety of stakeholders. Community champions will convene teams of local stakeholders that include most of the following: social/human services, early childhood, k-12 education, family resource centers, parent support programs, parents, community mental health, public health, medical professionals, community centered board, economic security and workforce development, child fatality prevention coordinator, first responders, higher education/community college, business sector, local public officials, local philanthropy, and other community-based organizations.

Congratulations to the fifteen community champions selected!

  • Arapahoe County Early Childhood Council
  • Bright Futures
  • Catholic Charities Diocese of Pueblo
  • Community Partnership Family Resource Center
  • Early Childhood Partnership of Adams County
  • Mesa County Public Health
  • Morgan County Family Center
  • Mountain Family Center
  • Mountain Resource Center
  • Northwest Colorado Community Health Partnership
  • Peaceful Households
  • Piñon Project Family Resource Center
  • Prowers County Department of Human Services
  • Starpoint Fremont Family Resource Center
  • West End Family Link Center

Early Milestones Colorado is the lead agency supporting communities’ planning efforts and will provide facilitation and technical assistance support to grantees. At the end of the eight-month planning process, the fifteen grantees will have outlined a local maltreatment prevention plan by completing specific tasks outlined in the community planning toolbox. Communities across Colorado can use the free tools available at https://co4kids.org/community-planning to complete the community planning process on their own.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Strengthening Families Network Survey for CSSP, complete by November 10th

Strengthening Families Network Survey for CSSP

Please complete a survey from the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) about the Protective Factors Framework and how it is being implemented in your community. This information will be added to show what is happening across the country to build protective factors in families.  Take a few minutes to share information  and brag about the great work you are doing in your community.

Please respond by November 10th.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SFNN2017



SAVE THE DATE - 2017 Meeting Dates

December 1st 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Mile High United Way Brad R. Busse Board Room
711 Park Ave W. 
Denver, CO 80205

2018 Strengthening Colorado Families and Communities Conference
September 26-28, 2018 Vail, CO

Co-Chairs Contact Information
Teri Haymond
Family Resource Center Association
303-388-1001 Ext. 102

Aaron Miller
Office of Early Childhood
303-866-5227



Strengthening Families Resources -  www.strengtheningfamilies.net

safeTALK: Suicide Prevention Alertness Training in Denver


Become suicide alert! 

safeTALK is a half-day alertness training that prepares anyone 15 or older, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. Most people with thoughts of suicide don’t truly want to die, but are struggling with the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they invite help to stay alive. safeTALK-trained helpers can recognize these invitations and take action by connecting them with life-saving intervention resources, such as caregivers trained in ASIST.

Since its development in 2006, safeTALK has been used in over 20 countries around the world, and more than 200 selectable video vignettes have been produced to tailor the program’s audio-visual component for diverse audiences. safeTALK-trained helpers are an important part of suicide-safer communities, working alongside intervention resources to identify and avert suicide risks.

Learning goals and objectives

Over the course of their training, safeTALK participants will learn to:
  • Notice and respond to situations where suicide thoughts might be present
  • Recognize that invitations for help are often overlooked
  • Move beyond the common tendency to miss, dismiss, and avoid suicide
  • Apply the TALK steps: Tell, Ask, Listen, and KeepSafe
  • Know community resources and how to connect someone with thoughts of suicide to them for further help

Training features:
  • Presentations and guidance from a LivingWorks registered trainer
  • Access to support from a local community resource person
  • Powerful audiovisual learning aids
  • The simple yet effective TALK steps: Tell, Ask, Listen, and KeepSafe
  • Hands-on skills practice and development
  • safeTALK helps expand the reach of suicide intervention skills in communities around the world. Watch this video from the Ontario Hockey Association, one of the many organizations that have implemented safeTALK, or click the links below to participate in or support this life-saving program. 

Presenters: Dr. Timothy Brown and Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Office of Suicide Prevention, Annual Report


The Office of Suicide Prevention's latest annual report for 2016-2017 was published this week.  Please find it here.

Suicide prevention in Colorado would not be possible without partnership with our local counterparts.  We thank you for your continued collaboration.