In 2015 the GLS grant from SAMHSA ended after 3 years of successful activity. In 2016 SAMHSA asked ASPARC and our partners to re-apply to SAMHSA for a 5 year extension of the GLS program through the Alabama Department of Public Health. The application was approved and funded so we…

Since 2012 ASPARC has focused on sponsoring suicide prevention conferences, increasing membership, and new suicide prevention outreach efforts. On September 30, 2014 ASPARC is sponsoring a suicide prevention conference in Montgomery, AL at the Montgomery County Health Department. Registration information can be found on the ASPARC website. In 2012 ASPARC…

All preparations for the 501(c)3 application were completed and the document was submitted for final approval. We learned that we were approved as an officially recognized 501(c)3 in late August! An application for Garrett Lee Smith funding was submitted in February, 2011, in the hopes that funding would create opportunities…

Early in 2010 ASPARC members are focusing on fulfilling paperwork requirements to request 501(c)3 status for ASPARC. This will enable ASPARC to elicit donations and solicit grants independently. In May, attending member of the ASPTF elected the following officers and board members: Acquanetta Knight, President* Judith Harrington, Vice President Martha…

The Task Force applied for $1.53 million in grants through SAMSHA for a comprehensive, pilot prevention program in Jefferson County. The SAMHSA grant primarily focused on gatekeeper training, bereavement services, development of rapid response teams to assist persons identified as suicidal, programs for survivors (relatives and friends of suicide victims),…

The task force recommended language for the Teen Suicide and Violence Prevention Act in the state legislature and was presented by its sponsors to both the Alabama House of Representatives and the Senate for enactment. In 2008 national, state and local resources were used to develop: Radio and TV spots;…

The task force partnered with the Crisis Center of Birmingham to hire a part-time, oneyear Task Force Suicide Prevention Coordinator through local grant funding from The Community Foundation of Birmingham. Task force chairmanship was split shared between ADPH (Alabama Department of Health) and Health DMH-MR (AL Department of Mental Health…

ADPH provided funds to Alabama Crisis Call Centers to develop advertisements to recruit volunteers and describe services. We used $15,000 of ADPH funds for this project. The 3 (certified) Crisis Call Centers (Mobile, Birmingham and Huntsville) received the money to recruit and train volunteers for their call lines. It was…

Garrett Lee Smith Application Committee was developed to apply for a prevention grant under the Garrett Lee Smith suicide prevention program funded through SAMSHA. Task Force developments, the Alabama Suicide Prevention Call Centers, and the State Plan were presented to the Alabama Council for Community Mental Health Boards.

The Governor’s Proclamation Ceremony commemorating National Suicide Prevention Awareness Week, the first full week after Labor Day week, was held. In 2004, the ASPTF received $25,000 for a statewide billboard campaign. I believe each of the major cities in Alabama had 3-4 billboards of two different sizes. This included Birmingham…