Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program - The purpose of this project is to improve infrastructure for reducing suicides and ultimately prevent suicide deaths among young people up to age 24 in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). Generation Schools Network (GSN) and EBCI will work collaboratively to achieve the three goals: improve protective factors, improve infrastructure for suicide prevention, and prevent suicides among EBCI young people up to age 24. To achieve the stated objectives, GSN and EBCI partners will build a EBCI suicide prevention implementation team (IT) including the Project Director (PD), Evaluator, Cherokee Central Schools (CCS) leadership, CCS mental health staff and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Coordinator, tribal police, behavioral health staff, public health and human services staff, tribal leadership, cultural experts, and community members, including survivors of suicide loss and suicide attempts. The IT will develop the tribal suicide prevention plan comprised of all required activities. Evidence-based suicide prevention programs will be implemented, professional development will be provided to schools staff, training and education provided to community members. An increase in screening and referrals to treatment will be a result of improvements in the coordination of efforts across the tribe. Partners from across the tribe, including residents with lived experience, will be engaged throughout the term of the grant. Evaluation will include both process and outcome measures to evaluate the achievement of goals and measurable objectives.
