Fundamentals of Suicide Prevention

Suicide is a major public health issue contributing heavily to the most common causes of death across populations. However, suicide is preventable. This training will offer a standardized approach that can be adapted to a range of settings for the prevention of suicide. Highlighting the importance of basing suicide prevention efforts in culturally responsive approaches, this session will share best practices related to specific cultural groups who may be at increased risk for suicide.

Schedule

12:50-1:00 PM | Virtual training room opens
1:00-1:15 PM | Welcome, Introductions, & Reflection
1:15-1:45 PM | Scope of the problem; risk and protective factors; cultural responsiveness; warning signs
1:45-2:30 PM | Standard Care Elements; assessment tools; safety planning
2:30-2:40 PM | Break
2:40-3:00 PM | Treatment modalities; Do’s & Don’ts; Additional tips
3:00-3:15 PM | Q&A

Learning Objectives:

• Identify risk and protective factors for suicide and understand the difference between risk factors and warning signs
• Describe the recommended standard care elements in a behavioral health outpatient setting
• Identify screening and assessment tools for use in suicide prevention
• Describe the key elements of an effective Safety Planning Intervention

Target Audience: Social service providers and helping professionals with direct client contact.
Social Work Practice Level: This course is appropriate for beginner and intermediate BSW/ MSW learners.
Course Delivery Format: Live webinar
Interactivity: This course will offer 15 minutes of Q&A time, as well as real-time polling, and group discussion prompts.
Social Work Continuing Education Credit: 2 CE Credits*
Fees: $25 general registration; additional $5 for registration with social work CE credit.

Registration includes access to the live event and recording, PDF of slides, and relevant training tip sheets/resources.

Course Completion Requirements: Attendees must attend the entirety of the virtual session with system video and audio enabled to participate, and respond to all poll questions and activities. Certificates will be distributed to participants via email within two weeks of the course’s conclusion. Attendees must complete a course evaluation within 48 hours via Google Forms to receive a certificate. Course evaluation links will be distributed during the session and via email immediately following the training. Individuals must attend the live webinar in order to receive a certificate of completion.

System Requirements: Webinar participants must have to access to a computer, tablet, or smart phone with high speed Internet, microphone, speakers, and a (free) Zoom video conferencing account.

Session Facilitators: 

Renée Frink-Boyd, CPS
Training Specialist
Pathways to Housing PA

Renée Frink-Boyd, CPS (she/her), is a Training Specialist with Pathways to Housing PA’s training and educational initiative, Housing First University. Renée first came to Pathways in 2015 and served as a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) on a non-fidelity Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, where she focused on building meaningful connections with program participants with chronic health conditions. Later, she joined the Pathways’ Center of Excellence as a Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Care Manager, where she assisted individuals with accessing MAT and MOUD services. Renée received her Peer Specialist certification in 2013. Her 10+ years of experience in the field includes working as an Employee Specialist at the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities, and as a CPS at Philadelphia area agencies including Horizon House and JFK Behavioral Health. Renée is passionate about building supportive peer relationships with individuals experiencing homelessness and managing co-occurring disorders.
 

Ryan Villagran, LSW
Training Specialist
Pathways to Housing PA

Ryan Villagran, MSW, LSW (they/them), joined Housing First University in June 2021 as a Training Specialist. Ryan holds a Master of Social Work from Temple University with a concentration in Communities & Policy. Their clinical background includes delivering psychiatric rehabilitation services in the mental health recovery model at a Community Integrated Recovery Center. Ryan also developed and coordinated a training program in a university setting for social workers serving transitional-aged youth and later taught a Human Behavior in the Social Environment course for graduate social work students. Ryan believes in the power of our collective imagination to dream of a better future centered around those on the margins.

ACE approval statement: Housing First University: a program of Pathways to Housing PA, provider #1759, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 01/12/2022 - 01/12/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2 clinical continuing education credits.

*Housing First University, a program of Pathways to Housing PA, can provide continuing education credits to licensed social workers in 48 of the 50 U.S. states and 10 Canadian provinces. Due to current regulations, CE credits cannot be offered to social workers in the states of New Jersey or New York. If you are not a Licensed Social Worker, please check with your board of accreditation to ensure this training meets your licensing needs.

To request an accessibility accommodation, please email: training@pthpa.org

For questions or comments, please contact: 
Ryan Villagran, LSW 
Continuing Education Director 
Housing First University, a program of Pathways to Housing PA
rvillagran@pthpa.org (215) 390-1500, ext. 1430