Tuesday, February 8, 2022
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Student Services/Prevention and Wellness team recently provided funding to Wisconsin schools and student groups through two separate grant programs: The Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention grant program and the Student AODA Mini-Grant Program.
Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention
The DPI awarded grants to 36 public high schools and one private high school as part of its Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Grant Program.
The grants are to be used by schools to develop planning stages of a Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Program or continue to build on an existing one. Round one of the grants allocated to schools totaled $35,065.
“Peer-to-peer programs are an essential tool in the toolbox we use to meet the mental health needs of Wisconsin’s students,” State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly said. “We know some of our students continue to struggle with mental health challenges, and the pandemic has only magnified those challenges. These student-led groups help provide the necessary skills to identify peers who may be struggling and help connect them to available resources and services.”
With a focus on training Wisconsin students to recognize the signs of suicide shown by fellow students, peer-to-peer programs use messages of hope, health, and strength to develop peer leaders and resources for students who may be struggling. Peer-to-peer training ensures that the people students are most likely to turn to in troubling times, their friends and classmates, have the knowledge and tools needed to recognize warning signs of suicide and depression, and are able to help their friends.
Eligible schools can be public, private, charter, or tribal schools. Schools must serve high school-aged students and can receive up to $1,000 per year for their program. All schools that applied were able to secure the full funding requested for their projects. Projects include evidence-based programs, such as peer-led Hope Squads and Sources of Strength suicide prevention programs, among others. Funding will allow schools to develop or sustain these peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs.
Peer-to-Peer suicide prevention grant efforts are just one aspect of a comprehensive suicide prevention program. For more information including resources on laws, staff training, non-suicidal self-injury, and curriculum for health classes, please visit the DPI’s suicide prevention webpage https://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/mental-health/youth-suicide-prevention.
Application Period for Second Round Funding Open Through Friday
The second round of funding is available for high schools that did not participate in the first round of the competition. For more information about how to apply for the Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention grant program, visit the DPI’s Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Grants Page. Applications for the second round grant competition are due Feb. 11, 2022, by 4:30 p.m. Additional information on applying can be found on the DPI's website here.
AODA Mini-Grant Program
The DPI also awarded grants to 62 student groups across the state with goals of educating, preventing, and using intervention programs to target alcohol and other drug abuse and other youth risk behaviors.
In its 33rd year, the DPI’s Student Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Mini-Grant Program awards grants up to $1,000 to groups focused on AODA prevention and related issues, such as bullying prevention, healthy choices, and vaping reduction. This year, mini-grants totaled $47,970.
“As the mental health needs of students increase, the value of supportive and caring peers in leadership positions becomes even more important,” State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly said. “I applaud students for taking part in these groups and making a difference in their community, and I’m proud to be a part of DPI’s continued support of these programs.”
Grant applications were externally reviewed by the State Superintendent’s AODA Council members and experienced prevention professionals. They were also reviewed internally by DPI staff and approved by the state superintendent’s office.
Student AODA mini-grants are just one component of a comprehensive AODA prevention program. For information on the AODA Program grants and access to many resources, including the DPI’s AODA listserv, visit the DPI’s AODA Program page at https://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/aoda.