Yellow Ribbon…more than
the Ask4Help!® Cards
 2004 Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
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Mission Statement
Yellow Ribbon is dedicated to preventing youth
suicide and attempts by making suicide
prevention accessible to everyone and
removing barriers to help by
.
-- empowering communities and individuals
through leadership, awareness and education.
-- collaborating and partnering with support
networks to save lives.
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Yellow Ribbon is a volunteer-driven
501c3 non profit built around the
philosophy of “it takes a village…”
…the true meaning of team work.
One of few SP organizations that teach/work both
in community development (building community
capacity) and suicide prevention trainings.
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Encourage Community to get involved
Why must we
build community
capacity as well as
train in suicide
prevention?
 2004 Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
Since 1999, there has been a
significant shift in awareness to
be proactive in suicide
prevention. Natural disasters
like Katrina, and Man-made
disasters like 9/11 have proven
that community
readiness is imperative.
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Encourage Community to get involved
Individuals in many roles at all levels of community
and society can make a unique and productive
contribution to the prevention of suicidal behaviors!
W.H.O. (1996) – C.D.C. (1998)
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Yellow Ribbon
 Began in 1994 in response to heartfelt pleas
by teens and adults after the death of a
friend & loved one.
 The ASK 4 HELP! Cards were created and the
teens mailed them to friends and family
 The program is a bright yellow bridge,
spanning the gap between need & help…
The ripple effect is felt around the world
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Yellow Ribbon
Yellow Ribbon is more than the founders and
the Colorado office. It is a world-wide network
of volunteer chapters/program sites* working
together with professional partners.
Yellow Ribbon itself is a symbol for prevention,
and the heart in the center is for survivors
* Over 75% of which are survivors of suicide loss and attempt survivors.
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Yellow Ribbon Does
Prevention  Postvention  Advocacy
Education  Awareness  Collaboration
Each of these activities/programs/projects
actually include all of them.
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Yellow Ribbon Does
 Support for Survivors
 Community Development Technical Assistance for
building community preparedness/readiness
 Education Suicide Prevention Training to School Staff,
Parent and Community Workshops, Youth (MS – HS),
Children (K-12 & Staff), First Responder, Faith based
 Speakers Bureau
 State/Local Plan Consulting--Coalition Building
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Yellow Ribbon Does
Best tell how it works by sharing an
example of steps we take:
• Over 95% of our work is done in response to requests.
• Over 60% are requests from communities in a
Postvention time.
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Community Readiness
Enhance Public
Awareness
Enhance Community
Based Safety Nets
Goals of
Community Readiness
Enhance skills &
knowledge of
gatekeepers/helpers
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Integrate into
existing community
efforts
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Yellow Ribbon Model
Seven-steps implemented in three phases
PHASE I
Get Active!
PHASE II
Be Active!
PHASE III
Stay Active!
Planning
And
Organizing
Suicide
Prevention
Trainings
Sustaining
the
Program
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Roll up your sleeves…
Phase 1: Get Active – Planning & Organizing
 Establish Task Force/Committee/Group. Often started over
the kitchen/restaurant/office table with a cup of coffee
 Identify Community Resources: Funding, Professionals for
Support Teams, Partners for Community Support (Churches,
Councils, Svc. Orgs., Businesses, Media, Youth Groups, Military
(Retired/Active), Retired Professionals and Volunteers of all ages.
 Identify TF/Committee leader(s) – Often survivors
 Schedule Trainings and Awareness Events/Activities
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Dig In!…
Phase 2: Be Active!
Implement Trainings & Awareness Events
 SP trainings to Task Force/Committee, School
Staff/Administration, Faith leaders and other Leaders in
Community, Parents, Community Groups.
 SP trainings to Youth, (Ask4Help!) Middle & High Schools,
alternative schools, churches, youth facilities, youth centers. and
all other settings that involve youth…
 Special SP trainings to First Responders and Faith-based
alliances and parents.
*Always invite/include survivors in these activities.
** Train Adults First, Youth Second.
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Keep Going!…
Phase 3: Stay Active! Sustain your program
 Annual SP trainings to both Adult and Youth
 Keep SP materials available in the community at easy-toaccess locations. (Ask4Help Cards, local/community
resource brochures and flyers)
 Support local YR Chapter/Group (Senior HS students help
mentor MS students, etc. (always with proper
adult/trained support/supervision)
 Observe annual SP Week (2nd Week of September),
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Fidelity of Program
Core components
Ask 4 Help! Cards
Lifeskills
Resources
Survivors/Youth
Survivors and Youth are the cornerstone of sustaining programs,
they have passion and the will to make a difference
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Questions?
 2004 Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program®
PO Box 644, Westminster, CO 80036
(Office: Orchard Court School, Adams County SD50)
303.429.3530 Fax 303-426-4496
www.yellowribbon.org ~ ask4help@yellowribbon.org
Facebook and Twitter @yellowribbon1
 2004 Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program