Wednesday, January 15, 2025
1/15/2025
Boise State is seeking the GLS grant to help fill current education, resource, and infrastructure gaps that exist for students that may be struggling with mental health and/or substance use. Boise State is committed to implementing the Thriving Broncos Project, a comprehensive suicide prevention program to enhance efforts already underway. From fall 2015 to fall 2020, Boise State University had eight students complete suicide. In fall 2020 alone, 10 Boise State students have attempted suicide and there has been an increase in the number of students experiencing anxiety, isolation, and trauma. The Boise State Dean of Students currently provides early intervention, outreach activities and postvention recovery support, and acts as the clearinghouse for prevention training and education, consultation and disseminating concerns for students to other departments. Positive steps are taken to collaborate between area hospitals and community agencies, but there are still gaps in campus-wide protocols and procedures to address. The Thriving Broncos Project will continue to build healthy approaches that break down institutional silos, meet students where they are at, increase empathy, and embed student wellbeing in the fabric of the institution. Grant funds will be used to continue developing comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable suicide prevention efforts on the Boise State campus. To achieve this purpose, Boise State has established four primary goals: (1) Create positive, systemic change on campus through assessment and development of a comprehensive mental health strategic plan; (2) Implement a training model that provides the tools and resources to assist in the effective response to student mental health and substance use issues; (3) Expand student support infrastructure through bolstering partnerships with key community agencies and stakeholders; and (4) Increase outreach and early intervention efforts to help leverage resources and increase help-seeking behavior. Measurable objectives for this program include creating purposeful structure and assessment; training key academic stakeholders on best practices and resources to improve responsiveness to student behavioral health challenges; collaborating with community providers to support a continuum of care for Boise State students; and embedding training and education to reduce risk-taking behaviors into administrative processes. These strategic efforts will strengthen infrastructure and community relationships, promote wellness and help-seeking, and amplify outreach to vulnerable student populations, with a focus on first generation, commuter (live off campus) students in their first year of college. Boise State prides itself as being a veteran-friendly campus and has been recognized for its dedication and service to veterans. Thus, increasing access and services to student veterans will also be a priority. Estimated number of people to be served in year one of the project – 500; year two – 2,000; and year three – 4,000. Total number of people served: 6,500.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).