HomeMy WebLinkAbout20001310.tiff RESOLUTION
RE: APPROVE PREVENTIVE BLOCK FUNDING REQUEST FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS
CAMPAIGN FOR PREVENTION OF SUICIDE AND AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, the Board has been presented with a Preventive Block Funding Request for
Public Awareness Campaign for Prevention of Suicide from the County of Weld, State of
Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the
Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, to the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment, with terms and conditions being as stated in said request, and
WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said request, a copy
of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Weld County, Colorado, that the Preventive Block Funding Request for Public Awareness
Campaign for Prevention of Suicide from the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and
through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Weld County
Department of Public Health and Environment, to the Colorado Department of Public Health
and Environment be, and hereby is, approved.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that the Chair be, and hereby is, authorized
to sign said request.
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted
by the following vote on the 31st day of May, A.D., 2000.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WE D COUNTY, COLORAD
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Barbara J. irkmeyer, C air
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Memorandum
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TO: Barbara Kirkmeyer
Chair, Weld County Commissioners
DATE: May 25, 2000
COLORADO FROM: Dr. Mark Wallace 'w-f tatiZtaik4S
Director, Weld County Department
of Public Health and Environment
Enclosed for Board review and approval is a proposal for a contract between the Weld County
Department of Public Health and Environment(WCDPHE)and the Colorado Department of Public
Health and Environment (CDPHE) for funding for the continuation of the public information and
education campaign, that was developed and implemented over the last year, for the prevention
of suicide, targeting the adolescents and young adults of Weld County.
The WCDPHE would, again, contract with the Suicide Education and Support Services (SESS) of
Weld County to provide the activities outlined in this proposal. The proposed activities include the
continuation of a multi-media (newspaper,television, radio, bus bench ads, posters, and web site)
campaign focusing on suicide prevention, in addition to a collaborative project with UNC, which
would include a media campaign on campus specifially targeting this age group(19-24 year olds),
plus training Community Health students to provide presentations and peer support (SESS has
received funding from Health One Alliance for this portion of the project). Supporting the multi-
media campaign, SESS volunteers and other experts will continue to provide presentations to local
groups and organizations in Weld County.
The grant request is for a one year period beginning in late summer of 2000. We are asking for
$22,460 for the continuation of this project.
I would recommend your approval on this proposal.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
:'00,i 13'
PREVENTIVE BLOCK FUNDING REQUEST
Public Awareness Campaign for the Prevention of Suicide
Submitted By: Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment*
1555 N. 17th Ave.
Greeley, CO 80631
Contact: Dr. Mark Wallace, Director
(970) 304-6420
Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment intends to contract with the
Suicide Education and Support Services (SESS) of Weld County for the fulfillment of the
activities outlined in this grant application.
Health Status Objective
6.1 Reduce suicides to no more than 10.5 per 100,000 people. (Age-adjusted baseline:
11.7 per 100,000 in 1987)
Statement of Problem
Weld County's suicide rate is nearly twice the national average (17 to 20 per 100,000
depending on the statistics), with a near record-breaking number of 27 suicide deaths in
1999 (214 since 1991). According to the Weld County Coroner's Office, 44% of last year's
suicides occurred in urban Greeley/Evans with the rest scattered across the rural areas of
the county. Over the past nine years, 22.5% of Weld County suicide deaths have been
among youth under the age of 25. Mid-life adults, age 25-54, and adults age 55 and older
represent 55% and 22.5% of all suicide deaths in Weld County, respectively. In 1999,
there was a record-breaking number of suicide deaths, eight (up from 3 in 1998), among
the 15-24 age group. In the Spring of 1999, WCDPHE's citizen advisory board completed
a year long evaluation of health issues in Weld County and named youth suicide as one
of their top priorities.
Program Strategy
Two years ago, Governor Romer's Suicide Prevention Advisory Commission
recommended the development of a lead entity to assume responsibility for the
development of an ongoing system for ensuring integrated, coordinated, and effective
information and services for the prevention of suicide. The report also recommended the
creation of a comprehensive public information and education campaign. The Governor's
Commission stated that"informed individuals will assist themselves and others in reducing
suicide of people of all ages in Colorado."
Based on these recommendations, in 1999, the Weld County Department of Public Health
and Environment (on behalf of the Suicide Education and Support Services of Weld
County) applied for and received Preventive Block Grant funds to carry out an extensive
public awareness campaign to address the magnitude of the problem, common myths and
realities surrounding suicide, the warning signs of depression, and how to get help.
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The Suicide Education and Support Services (SESS) of Weld County has been the lead
entity for suicide education and prevention in Weld County since it's creation, in 1987, by
Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment. SESS brings professionals
and lay persons together "...to develop and offer educational programs and support
services to the communities of Weld County in the areas of suicide prevention,
intervention, and postvention." Over the last year, SESS has successfully implemented
an extensive public awareness campaign, based on the slogan "Suicide Prevention: It's
Everybody's Business." This campaign has been supported by the creation of a website,
community presentations, and face-to-face training with the target population.
So far in 2000, Weld County has experienced only four suicide deaths, down from twelve
this time last year. It is too soon to know if this welcome trend will continue, or what, if
any, of this decrease can be attributed to the public awareness campaign, but it does give
cause for hope. To date, much energy has been focused on building the relationships
needed to implement community-wide public awareness efforts and on developing a solid
campaign. With continued funding, SESS would like to continue the momentum that has
thus been created so far.
Most of the public awareness campaign has been centered around Greeley, based on the
fact that, for several years, over half of Weld County's suicide victims have been Greeley
residents. With continued funding, SESS would like to extend the campaign to the
communities of Windsor, Fort Lupton, Platteville, Eaton, and Kersey. Looking at the 1999
statistics, over half of the suicide deaths in Weld County occurred outside the
Greeley/Evans area. As well, the focus of this year's campaign has been on 12-17 year
olds. In next year's campaign, SESS would extend the focus to 18-24 year olds (and
senior citizens in the third year of the campaign). This change is based on the record
breaking number of suicide attempts and deaths that has occurred, over the last year,
among this age group.
Over the last year SESS has worked collaboratively with several local organizations and
businesses, including United Way, North Front Range Behavioral Health, the County
Health Department and Coroner's Office, North Colorado Medical Center, Greeley Tribune,
AT&T Cable, and more, to make this campaign successful and comprehensive. These
networks will continue. As well, with funding received from Health One Alliance, SESS will
work with the University of Northern Colorado's health center and the Community Health
and Nutrition Department, in the fall, to develop a suicide education and prevention
program for UNC. This new program will build upon the public awareness campaign
already developed,and will involve training Community Health students to do presentations
on campus.
Grant Funded FTE
Twenty five percent of SESS's executive director's time would be funded from this grant
request, including fringe benefits at 12%.
Other Funds
SESS has received funding ($4,500) from Health One Alliance to develop and implement
a in-depth suicide prevention and education program at UNC. This funding will cover the
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direct services portion of the project. SESS also receives in-kind support from the
WCDPHE, the Greeley Tribune, AT&T Cable, several local radio stations, and several
individuals who volunteer their time and expertise. See the budget narrative for more
detail.
Target Population
This campaign will continue to focus on 12-17 year olds while adding a campaign
specifically targeting 18-24 year olds. Like any public awareness campaign that uses
media (radio, newspaper, and television), the general population will, hopefully, also gain
a heightened awareness. According to 1998 data, Weld County's population is 162,253
(73% white, 25% Hispanic, and 2% other). The age distribution is as follows: 33% under
age 21, 35% between the ages of 21 and 44, 21% between the ages of 45 and 64, and
11% over the age of 64, with the median age being 33 years. The population for Greeley
is 72,494, with a comparable ethnic and age distribution.
Disparate Population
Not applicable.
Impact Objectives
Within a three to five year period we propose to reduce Weld County's suicide rate to the
national average of 10.8 per 100,000 (based on 1996 data). Starting with a 10% reduction
over the second year of this campaign.
Annual Objectives
Within a year of being awarded funds for this program, SESS will continue the with multi-
media campaign that was developed and implemented over the past year, but will expand
this campaign to the rural areas of Weld County and expand the focus to 19-24 year olds.
This will include newspaper, television, and radio advertising as well as advertisements
displayed on bus benches and billboards, and posters displayed in local schools(including
the University of Northern Colorado), libraries, churches, and other appropriate public
facilities. The purpose of the media campaign is to educate individuals about resources
and services available to them if they or someone they know is contemplating suicide, in
order to reduce the rate of suicide attempts (HP 2010 -18.2). In support of the media
campaign, SESS will also continue providing community presentations and trainings, as
requested, and will continue to make the web site available . SESS will also do a more in-
depth public information campaign on the University of Northern Colorado. Plus, using the
funds awarded from Health One Alliance, SESS will work with University of Northern
Colorado students, faculty, and staff to develop to develop a peer supported educational
program.
Other Funding Sources
See above under Other Funds.
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Public Awareness Campaign Budget
Total Budget Less In-Kind Requested
PERSONNEL
Executive Director $ 8,000 $ 8,000
Fringe Benefits 960 960
Speakers 4,000 4,000
Fiscal Administration 4,500 4,500
Evaluation 1,000 1,000
Web Master 400 400
NON PERSONNEL
Advertising $17,000 7,000 $10,000
Educational Materials 3,000 3,000
Website 500 500
TOTAL $39,360 $16,900 $22,460
Personnel
Twenty-five percent of SESS's executive director's time will be used to administer this
program (plus fringe benefits at 12%).
Non Personnel
Advertising, as the central focus for this campaign, will include display ads in the rural
papers ($3,000), display ads in the high school and University newspapers ($3,000),
printing of prevention posters ($1,500), the production and display of billboards in the rural
areas ($1,500), and the production and display of bus bench ads in the Greeley/Evans
area ($1,000). Educational materials ($3,000), including wallet crisis cards and brochures,
in English and Spanish, will be purchased to support the media campaign and
presentations. Funds will also be used to maintain and update SESS's web site ($500).
In Kind Donations
The Greeley Tribune has agreed to design and run display ads at no cost(a $3,000 value),
and the local cable television station and several Weld County radio stations will help
produce and air television and radio ads ($4,000). There are also several individuals
(speakers, program evaluators, and Web Master), who have committed their time and
expertise to this effort, and the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment
(WCDPHE) has agreed to fiscally manage this program at no cost to SESS. The time and
resources of these volunteers and the staff of the WCDPHE would normally cost close to
$9,900.
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Project Title: Public Awareness Campaign for the Prevention of Suicide
Applicant's Name: Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment
Address: 1555 N. 17th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631
Phone Number (970) 304-6410
Director: Dr. Mark Wallace
Contact Person: Dr. Mark Wallace
Amount Requested: $22,460
WELD COUNTY BOARD WELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
OF COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
Barbara Kirkmeyer, Chair /{ Dr. Mark Wallace, Director
(05/31/2000)
WEL OU C ' Ts TH.
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By: . r • ;� �. —
Deputy Clerk to th; Bo. a 4/17it'S
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