Project Safety Net Community Task Force - Minutes

Diane Downend, diane@edenbridgehomes.com

March 11, 2010, 10:00am, Mitchell Park Community Center

Guest Speaker – Karen Marshall from the American Association of Suicidology (AAS)

• Karen Marshall is the Program Development Director from the American Association of Suicidology. Karen spoke about the suicide in America, what is known about suicide clusters and community based approach suicide prevention strategies. Karen Marshall’s power point presentation can be seen at Project Safety Net website: www.cityofpaloalto.org/safetynet click on Additional Resources


Updates – from the Executive Committee (EX):


• Report to elected officials – EX is recommending a report from the Project Safety Net task force be prepared and presented to elected officials detailing what has been accomplished as a result of the task force efforts, what remains to be accomplished and recommendations for sustaining the effort. The tentative plan is to complete and present the report by the end of this school year.
• Track Watch and rail security – Strategy P-4 Reduction of lethal means to self harm remains a critical strategy. Call to Action - People can help by supporting the volunteer group Track Watch and/or by donating money to support the paid security guards monitoring the tracks. For more information visit Strategy P-4 Reduction of lethal means to self harm
• HEARD Alliance (Health Care Alliance for Response to Adolescent Depression) reported on the three working groups focused on Schools, Primary Care and Mental Health. Among the initiatives being implemented are Gatekeeper programs, targeted screening, improved coordination of community treatment resources and enhanced connections between primary care, mental health and schools
• Learning item – Dr. Ginsburg Visit Call to Action - excellent learning opportunity provided by the PTA Council - Dr. Ken Ginsburg: Building Resilience in Children and Teens Thurs. Mar 25, Resource fair and community social 6pm, Presentation 6:30pm, Spangenberg Theatre, Gunn. Using humor and real-life scenarios, Dr. Ken Ginsburg will teach you how to raise resilient children who can deal with stress in an increasingly complex world. His unique perspective emphasizes the developmental strengths of youth, equipping participants with skills needed to better teach kids to help themselves. Dr. Ginsburg is a nationally renowned pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. His books include A Parent’s Guide to Building Resilience in Children and Teens and Less Stress, More Success. Free. Sponsors include Palo Alto PTA Council, Palo Alto School PTAs, and Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council. Flyer: http://info.paloaltopta.org/docs/100325ginsburgflyer.pdf
• Youth Outreach – Palo Alto Youth Forum - Several Palo Alto youth and adult leaders are conducting a progressive series of youth forums where youth and adults from the Palo Alto community are engaging in facilitated discussions and mutual problem-solving around 3 areas of concern identified by youth leaders: youth voice in the schools, activities for young people in Palo Alto, business relationships with young people. There is one Session to go April 3, 2-5pm Mitchell Park Community Center Call to Action - Visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/teens to explore how you can help take action resulting from the Palo Alto Youth Forum

41 Developmental Assets - A framework and guiding set of youth development principles for the Project Safety Net effort:

• The Executive Committee is recommending Project Safety Net design a plan to implement the 41 Developmental Assets as broad and powerful community initiative to engage all adults to be Asset Builders. Chris Miller from the faith Community, Kathy Schroeder parent representative and Guest speaker Mike Wasserman, former Mayor from the Town of Los Gatos helped present the proposal. Call to Action - If you want to be on the 41 Developmental Assets working group contact Greg Hermann at greg.hermann@cityofpaloalto.org

The meeting was concluded with a lunch and informal discussion on Project Safety Net’s efficacy, future needs and priorities