An important three-day training event is being organized for Feb 18-20, 2010 in response to an extremely important and urgent matter. Santa Barbara has experienced a dramatic increase in suicides. This trend is alarming and clearly outside the norm.

If you want to participate in this training and/or send one to three members of your agency or group, use the attached registration form to make your request. Please register.

Space is limited so reply ASAP. A flier is also attached.

Please download these files:

Traumatic Stress Management Training Registration Form

Flyer for SB Traumatic Stress Management Training

Public, private, faith based and grassroots organizations have come together and formed a stakeholder group in an effort to develop a set of strategies to address this community crisis.

There have been a number of proactive steps taken to address the situation. For example, the Santa Barbara School District has joined with the Glendon Association and Hospice of Santa Barbara to provide workshops for teachers and students related to suicide signs and risk assessment, as well as, strategies for coping with grief and loss.

These workshops and trainings are also being scheduled at community based organizations and within faith based communities. Despite this proactive response there is a clear consensus that additional resources are needed immediately. Professionals, clergy members, parents and youth are all asking for assistance and a set of tools with which to cope and support each other.

The stakeholder group has contracted with Dr. Robert Macy, an internationally recognized expert on community-based trauma treatment and prevention, to conduct a three-day training in Santa Barbara for Thursday, Feb 18 through Sat, Feb. 20 at Victoria Hall, 8am to 5pm each day. It is essential that participants attend all three days.

Funds are being raised to pay for Dr. Macy, so the organizing group hopes to offer the training at no cost. Professionals desiring continuing education credit will be charged $75 for 20 hours or training. The fee applies only to licensed professionals who want CEUs; otherwise the training is free.

One to three people from each of 30-40 groups, agencies, and institutions are invited to attend. We realize that this is short notice and that it may be difficult to release one to two of your staff members or for your group members to find time to participate in three full days but the training is vital to building an effective trauma response network.

NOTE: There will be Spanish Translation on site and a Spanish version of this flyer will be sent to you.

Dr. Macy will -

1. Advise our community on proactive suicide prevention

2. Train a cadre of helping professionals, outreach workers, clergy, coaches, parents and youth on suicide prevention, psychological first aid, and post-traumatic stress management.

3. Help Santa Barbara develop a Community Based Trauma Response Network that includes a continuum of care that is responsive to the cultural and unique needs of our community.

Attendees at the event will total 150 representatives from ADMHS, law enforcement, private and public schools, county/state/city government, health facilities, faith-based groups, community members, community-based organizations, colleges and universities, graduate students, and funders.

Sincerely,

Santa Barbara Community Response Network
30+ organizations, agencies, schools, institutions, faith-based groups, and government entities working together to help the community.