The Impact of Suicide on Youth & Families Curriculum

Course Description:

Why do the numbers in Wisconsin continue to either rise, or stay the same, when most of the country is seeing a decline in child/adolescent suicide? Who are we missing? The "Ones We Miss" are most often children in out-of-home care and youth who are bullied. We certainly have a basic understanding of suicide, and what to do about it, but yet it continues to be a challenge. This training will address these questions and also provide you with ideas for case planning when working with families where suicidal behaviors and ideations continue to be challenging. This 6 hour training will include lecture, handouts, small group discussions and development of a system of care and crisis plan as part of case planning.

Course Objectives:

Child Welfare Workers will:

  • Understand the phenomenology of suicide and its impact on children and adolescents.
  • Understand the warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors of suicide when assessing youth and families.
  • Gain an understanding of the scope of the problem facing Wisconsin and thus Child Protective Services and Juvenile Justice Professionals.
  • Gain awareness and understanding of who are the “ones we miss”, including children in out- of-home care and youth who are bullied.
  • Have an opportunity to discuss several strategies currently utilized in Wisconsin to address the problem of child/adolescent suicide to use in case planning.
  • Understand crisis planning and develop a crisis plan based on a realistic case scenario.

Foster Parents will:

  • Understand the phenomenology of suicide and its impact on children and adolescents.
  • Understand the warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors of suicide when working with youth and families.
  • Gain an understanding of the scope of the problem facing Wisconsin and those working with children in out of home care.
  • Develop awareness and understanding of who are the “Ones We Miss”, including children in out- of-home care and youth who are bullied.

Trainers Guide - Child Welfare Staff (2016) >>

6-hour Worker Training Materials

Trainers Guide - Foster Parents (2016) >>

3-hour Foster Parent Training Materials