Hazelden Publishing

Lifelines National Training Model

There are four options for training that will help schools and communities implement Lifelines with fidelity.  For each option, we have given the goals, objectives, expected audience, and agenda. The Training-of-Trainers model, successfully implemented with other evidence-based programs, will be used to more rapidly disseminate Lifelines nationally.

For the purposes of this NREPP application, the first program listed is the Lifelines Curriculum Implementation Training. Schools which choose to only offer the Lifelines Curriculum Implementation Training are strongly encouraged to develop effective policies and procedures for responding to suicide behaviors, and to train gatekeepers and educate parents before providing education to students. The other three training options address these issues.

All of the workshops listed can be implemented in one site visit to a community, with follow-up consultation available and recommended.

Lifelines Curriculum Implementation Training

Goal:  This one-day training is designed to provide the necessary knowledge and skills for implementing the Lifelines curriculum with fidelity.   

Objectives:  Participants will be able to:

• give an overview of the comprehensive components of Lifelines
• cite the research behind Lifelines that has proven its effectiveness
• know the rationale behind the other Lifelines elements including administrative procedures and links to the community; crisis team and gatekeepers training, faculty and staff member training, and parent education.
• use the detailed instructor's guide to teach four 45-minute lessons on suicide. These lessons prepare students to identify suicidal behavior, respond appropriately, and obtain help for their friends and themselves
• be seen as a resource for students and adults who are concerned about suicide
• know how to respond effectively if they become concerned about a student
• become comfortable with the Lifelines skill-based approach, including role-playing

Who should attend? Health educators and others who are implementing the Lifelines curriculum with students, including school nurses, guidance counselors, social workers, and other experienced teachers.

Lifelines Curriculum Implementation Training Agenda:

8:00 Registration
8:30 Introduction and Overview
9:00 Lifelines overview
    Four components of a comprehensive suicide program
    Lifelines research
10:00 Lifelines curriculum
    Using the instructor s guide
    An overview of the four sessions

10:30 Session 1: 
    Introduction
    Role Play -
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Session 4:
    Introduction
    Role Play -
1:30 Session 2 & 3
    Overview
    Group Assignments
    Presentations
3:00 Implementing with Fidelity
3:30 Evaluating Students
4:00 Evaluation and Closure
4:30 Adjourn
 
Protocol Development Workshop

Goal:  This half-day workshop and/or consultation provides direction, structure and support to safely assist youth and staff members who are presented with suicidal behavior, both non-fatal and fatal.
 
Objectives:  Participants will:

• understand the importance of establishing guidelines
• initiate the development of effective protocols
• have an effective plan in place for intervening when presented with suicidal behavior
• use sample guidelines and flow charts to establish protocols and guidelines specific to their own school and community
• reduce liability risks by having a plan in place

Who should attend? Key staff members (decision makers) who are responsible for crisis coordination and management of emergencies in schools and community agencies, including administrators, social workers, school nurses, guidance counselors, school resource officers, etc.

Protocol Development Workshop, Continued

Agenda:
 8:00 Registration
 8:30 Introduction and Overview
 9:00 Overview of a comprehensive suicide prevention plan
10:00 Liability issues
10:30 Sample guidelines and flow-charts
11:00 Proactive planning
12:00  Adjourn

Gatekeeper Training: Creating a "Competent Community"

Goal:  This half-day training for adults in school and community settings is designed to increase general knowledge about suicide so that all adults in the school and community are prepared to recognize and respond to suicidal behavior.  
 
Objectives:  Participants will learn:

• how to recognize youth suicidal behavior
• how to respond to a suicidal youth with specific, basic suicide intervention skills
• how to effectively manage the aftermath of suicidal behavior

Who should attend? Any adult in a community who is willing to learn how to recognize and respond to young people who may be considering suicide. Crisis teams within a school and community are particularly appropriate for this training, and may also play key roles in presenting information about community resources.

Gatekeeper Training Agenda:

 8:00 Registration
 8:30 Introduction and Overview
 9:00 The Nature of Suicide
   Myths, Facts, Attitudes
10:00 Recognizing Suicidal Behavior
   Risk Factors, Warning Signs
10:30 Responding Effectively
   Suicide Intervention Skills
   Working with Parents and Guardians
   The Aftermath of a Suicidal Event
   The Importance of Self-Care
12:00 Adjourn

Online Training

The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide is working with Hazelden Publishing to offer its free, interactive series Making Educators Partners in Suicide Prevention available to those who purchase Lifelines. This two-hour professional development program is designed to be completed at the viewer's own pace, and covers the basics of suicide prevention. This online program is highly recommended for anyone who is implementing Lifelines curriculum, as a supplement to training. A new module has been specifically designed to address suicide risk for middle school. 

Note:  This program has been placed on the registry of best practices programs by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Lifelines Training of Trainers

Goal: The three-day Training-of-Trainers for Lifelines provides the knowledge and skills to enable experienced trainers to effectively implement Gatekeeper Training, the Protocol Development Workshop, and Implementation Training under contract or license with Hazelden Publishing.

Objectives:  Participants will be able to:

• present information about suicide to a variety of different audiences
• provide consultation and/or training on the development of effective policies and procedures
• present gatekeeper training sessions to develop "competent communities" which can effectively respond to suicidal behavior
• train teachers to implement Lifelines curriculum with fidelity
• evaluate all workshops and/or training sessions they conduct
• fulfill the contractual and/or license responsibilities with Hazelden Publishing
• maintain quality control for all training activity
   
  Who should attend? Experienced trainers, who may be health educators, school nurses, guidance counselors, social workers, prevention specialists, and other experienced teachers.
• Lifelines Training of Trainers Agenda

Day 1:
 8:00 Registration
 8:30 Introduction and Overview
 9:00 Lifelines overview and research
    Components of a comprehensive suicide program
10:00 Developing Effective Policies and Procedures
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Developing Effective Policies and Procedures, cont 
 1:30 Conducting Gatekeeper Training 
 4:30 Adjourn

Day 2:
 8:30 Review and Preview
 9:00 Educating Parents
    Video:  "Not My Kid" with Lanny Berman
11:00 Lifelines Curriculum Overview
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Lifelines Curriculum 
 4:30 Adjourn

Day 3:
 8:30 Review and Preview
 9:00 Lifelines Curriculum, continued
11:00 Trainer’s guide and resources
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Training expectations and logistics
 2:30 Helping communities implement Lifelines with fidelity
 4:00 Evaluation and Closure 
 4:30 Adjourn

For contracted training please contact our training distributor for your area:

Tennessee - Stars
New York - new York BOCES
Virginia - Bully Free Virginia
Ohio - Ohio Partnership for Violence-Free Families

For all other states please contact Hazelden at training@hazelden.org or call 800-328-9000, ext. 4672.

Consultation and Technical Assistance

In order to assist schools and communities with implementing Lifelines, consultation and technical assistance is available from Hazelden Publishing on an individual basis. Schools and communities may find it necessary to have an outside consultant review policies and procedures, or trouble-shoot a particularly difficult area of implementation. Consultation may be arranged by contacting Kaylene McElfresh, Manager of Conferences and Training kmcelfresh@hazelden.org; consultation fees are currently $100.00 per hour.