Avila Now

October 25, 2017

Avila University and UMKC to Host Social Work Forum on Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention Ribbon
suicide prevention ribbon.

(October 25, 2017) KANSAS CITY, MO – Avila University and the University of Missouri – Kansas City will sponsor a suicide prevention social work forum on November 7 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Whitfield Center on the Avila University campus.

The forum will provide community resources applications for suicide prevention and the scheduled keynote talk, Expanding Our Multi-Systemic Prevention Effectiveness, will be given by Sue Lewis, from the Mental Health Association of the Heartland.

Suicide prevention requires targeted education, client intervention, organizational models, and community network participation. The forum will highlight important metro-wide efforts that prioritizes its prevention by requiring extensive resource commitment, program innovation, and policy enactment to support multilevel sustainable action.

The forum will also include a panel of local social work experts:

  • Susan Estes, “Reaching Children in Schools,” Mental Health Association of the Heartland
  • Patrick Pruitt, “Native American Risk and Resilience,” Kansas City Indian Center
  • Sean Hess, “First Responders as Community Partners,” Crisis Intervention Team – KCPD
  • Tom Petrizzo, “Zero Suicide – a National Program Model,” Tri-County Mental Health Services

The event is free, but space in limited. Contact francis.origanti@avila.edu or rathbone-mccuane@umkc.edu to RSVP. One CEU practitioner credit is available through Empower Missouri.

Avila University is located at 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145 and free parking is available.

Avila University, a Catholic University sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, is a values-based community of learning providing liberal arts, professional, undergraduate and graduate education to prepare students for responsible, lifelong contributions to the global community. Our approach to education brings out the best in our students, so they can bring out the best in others.

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