Jeffco Public Schools

Learn about what programs, trainings, and options Jeffco is implementing around suicide prevention. Review data, find local and nation crisis resources, and review our comprehensive suicide prevention program.

Suicide Prevention Program

Jeffco counselors are educated in the area of implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that targets the unique needs of the student. This approach includes support around academic, social/emotional, and career planning and is delivered through classroom guidance lessons, small groups, and in an individual setting. Counselors support academic, social/emotional, and career planning and deliver through classroom guidance lessons, small groups, and in an individual setting. Counselors support the development of social emotional learning through implementation of Sources of Strength, completion of Suicide Risk Assessments, Child Protection reports, and crisis recovery. They support career planning through the Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP).

The SELS are mental health professionals across the fields of school psychology, school social work, and school counseling with specific expertise in prevention based tiered implementation of SEL. SELS’ support school-based implementation of positive school climate & culture efforts, the direct instruction of SEL, and tier 2 supports. SELS facilitate the use of data-based problem solving across the tiers to ensure increased behavioral, prosocial, and academic outcomes for all students.

Counselor Corp specialists provide the same support as counselors with a primary focus on transition between middle school and high school. There are 10 schools that house counselor corp specialists.

These counselors and social workers are contracted through Jefferson County Mental Health. Currently 23 schools have brought in these specialists to provide the most intense level of mental health interventions and to act as a community resource for students.

These specialists provide counseling support to gifted students at GT center schools. The support system that GT SELCs provide encompasses the CASEL competencies of self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, relationship skills, and social awareness. SELCs collaborate with all stakeholders including teachers, school mental health providers, administrators, parents, and any outside agency involved in the student’s life in order to provide quality support for gifted learners. They provide classroom instruction, small group interventions, and brief individual counseling support within the GT center of the school. SELCs are also available for consultation with any school needing advisement in serving GT populations.

While nurses do not provide direct, clinical support in the terms of mental health therapy, they do provide social emotional wellness support. Nurses, especially the 8 site-based high school nurses, are engaged in coaching students and providing students with tools to assist in making healthy decisions. All high school nurses are also providing support for students who struggle with substance abuse. They assess students for substance abuse risk factors through the DAST screening tool and connect the student and family with community resources. Nurses are the health (physical and mental) liaison between the mental health provider at STRIDE Community Health Center School Based Health Centers (SBHCs) and the students in the school. All Jeffco nurses have a mental health educational background and are a great resource to connect students and families to the appropriate district and/or community resources.

These specialists provide direct and consultative mental health and behavioral services primarily to students who have been identified as having an educational disability and are eligible for special education or 504 services. They provide assessments and interventions for students who are in the evaluation process for special education eligibility. They can serve any student in the school in a crisis situation or those they have attained parental consent for. They have expertise in community resources to provide more intensive services to students and families in need.

These specialists provide direct and consultative mental health and behavioral services primarily to students who have been identified as having an educational disability and are eligible for special education or 504 services. They provide assessments and interventions for students who are in the evaluation process for special education eligibility. They can serve any student in the school in a crisis situation or those they have attained parental consent for. They have expertise in community resources to provide more intensive services to students and families in need.

Here you will find resources on various topics for families and staff.

School Violence
Talking with Children about School Threats
Talking with Children about School Threats - Spanish
Talking to Children about Violence: Tips for Parents and Educators
Talking to Children about Violence: Tips for Parents and Educators - Spanish

Suicide Resources

Suicide Prevention Info & Resources Prevención del suicidio e información de recursos

• Jefferson County Public Health
• Stanford University
• QPR Institute
• Sources of Strength
• HEARD Alliance
• Jefferson Center
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
• Jefferson County Communities That Care
• Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado
• The Trevor Project
• National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
• American School Counselor Association
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Second Wind Fund
• American Association of Suicidology
• Jefferson Center End Teen Suicide
• Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center
• National Institute of Mental Health
• internetmatters.org - how to report suicidal content on social media