Bright Futures Project of Arizona - This project will consist of a partnership between the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Cochise County Education Service Agency (CCESA), The Inter-tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA), and The University of Arizona (UArizona). The purpose of Arizona Project Bright Futures is to address the urgent needs around youth suicide in Arizona, specifically in rural and remote communities. The demographics for this proposed project include the overall population of Arizona, which consists of 23% children where more than 6 out of 10 children are children of color. The youth population in Arizona is 45% Latino/a, 38% White, 4% two or more races, 4% American Indian, 5% Black, and 3% Asian. According to the Children's Action Alliance, 16% of children in Arizona are living in poverty. Moreover, children of color in Arizona disproportionately experience poverty with 39% of American Indian children living in poverty and 20% of Latino/a children living in poverty. Additionally, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized American Indian tribes and has the largest total American Indian population of any state in the county, with Arizona schools serving 47,707 American Indian/Alaska Native students. With this, there is a strong importance on ensuring suicide prevention and early intervention project strategies are culturally and linguistically appropriate to all youth who represent the state of Arizona. The demonstration CESA is Cochise County, which is in the southeastern corner of Arizona. The population of Cochise County is 54.6% White, 35.9% Hispanic or Latino, 4.4% Black or African American, 2.2% Asian, 1.9% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 3.6% two or more races (US Census Bureau, 2023). The total poverty rate in Cochise County is 17.7%, with a median household income of $58,421. In Cochise County, 22% of the population is comprised of children under the age of 18, and 25% of children live in poverty. It is intended that all youth served by CCESA will have access to the goals, activities, and resources proposed in this project, and there is potential to replicate activities in other rural counties in Arizona, therefore expanding the reach of impact of Arizona Project Bright Futures. The four main goals for this proposed project include; (a) resources and support for staff, (b) resources and support for students, (c) increased capacity and infrastructure, and (d) continuity of care. Data around youth access, referral, and services for suicide prevention and intervention and the number of staff trained to conduct suicide assessments will also be collected, as required by the funding opportunity. Arizona Project Bright Futures will utilize a train the train the model to ensure suicide prevention and early intervention training opportunities are accessible in rural and remote communities in Arizona. Further, staff and students will be trained in suicide awareness, prevention, and intervention using evidence-based, culturally relevant, and linguistically appropriate programming and curriculum. Arizona Project Bright Futures also aims to develop and implement a universal response system for Arizona’s educational communities to utilize when referrals for youth with thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts occur, which includes a strong emphasis on continuity of care once youth have been stabilized. The partnerships with ITCA and CCESA strengthen Arizona Project Bright Futures by emphasizing the needs of indigenous, rural, and remote communities and how each community requires unique supports to increase the availability of evidence-based, culturally relevant, and linguistically appropriate supports. Finally, sustainability is a guiding light for Arizona Project Bright Futures, as emphasis is placed on increasing formal written policy and procedures to support the work of this grant beyond the
