Suicide Prevention Training Cost: Where Districts Can Secure Funding to Overcome Budget Barriers

Districts acknowledge that it’s more important than ever to support student mental health. Unfortunately, budget can be a barrier, especially as schools nationwide face cuts that threaten mental health resources. However, with knowledge and creativity (and guidance from Kognito!), you can find funding sources to help provide students and staff with valuable training that helps them learn how to support themselves and each other.

Where to Secure Funding to Reduce Suicide Prevention Training Cost

Kognito’s interactive simulations that address school climate topics including suicide prevention, trauma-informed training, and social and emotional learning (SEL) can promote a more supportive, safer learning environment. Districts often want to provide Kognito’s simulations to their students and staff as part of their mental health initiatives, but aren’t sure where to look for funding.

Kognito can meet state requirements and fit into existing state-wide suicide prevention efforts, which opens the door to funding possibilities. There are ample federal, state, and local resources you can tap into and that our clients have had success securing in order to bring the power of Kognito’s virtual simulations to their schools.

We understand that finding and obtaining funding can feel overwhelming. It’s hard to sort through all the programs available, only to find one that you may not even be certain you qualify for.

On the positive side, the fact that there are an overwhelming number of sources means that there are more opportunities. You just need to know which ones are best aligned to Kognito’s simulations and your schools so you have the best chance of success. That’s why we put together a helpful guide to simplify your search.

This downloadable PDF, Funding Kognito: A Guide to Securing Funds for Professional Development and SEL Curriculum, puts valuable grantseeking information at your fingertips including:

• Specific federal funding sources
• Where to look for state and local funding sources
• Existing budgets you may be able to tap into that you haven’t considered
• Grant application tips and tricks
• Kognito facts to help strengthen your grant applications
• Case studies that showcase real districts’ creative funding solutions

If suicide prevention training cost is a concern, you should also know this: Online professional development can yield cost savings compared to in-person seminars or workshops. By thinking outside the box, you can bring effective online mental health resources to your district and stay within your budget.

Facing Budget Cuts? You’re Not Alone

School-based mental health services are facing budget cuts from every direction. This can mean reductions in services, staff cuts, and even the complete elimination of services in schools.

New Jersey’s governor faced backlash when he proposed budget cuts that would completely remove funding for services like suicide prevention and counseling. In Arizona, the statewide ratio of students to school counselors is 905 to 1 (the highest ratio in the country). In Idaho, proposed budget cuts would reduce teachers’ professional development by nearly half.

These budgets are being slashed at a time when there’s a heightened need for mental health services. If you’re struggling with suicide prevention training cost, but want to support your students during this extraordinary time, you’re not alone… and we’re here to help! As a recent example, the CARES Act is allocating billions of dollars for states to distribute to districts, and this money can help fund mental health support and services.

Kognito is Standing By to Assist

We are already working with districts to figure out how they can use this new CARES Act funding towards Kognito simulations. We work with districts one-on-one to help identify and secure funding sources. Our funding guide is a valuable resource to help you get started, but if you need further guidance, we’ll be happy to help you connect the dots so you can harness the power of simulation in your efforts to improve school climate.

By “connect the dots” we don’t just mean find grants you may qualify for (although that’s part of it!). We provide support and guidance throughout your whole journey. For example, Kognito’s Client Success Team works with clients during implementation to identify training goals that can fit into grant objectives. These objectives are then mapped to specific metrics collected by Kognito. You’ll receive regular progress updates, usage information, and tips and best practices via email, webinar, and phone from your client success manager to help with data collection and performance assessment that is often required of grants.

Funding Example: Bay District Schools

Panama City, Florida | Community Funds
In October 2018, Hurricane Michael was the third most powerful storm to ever make landfall in the U.S., devastating the Florida Panhandle. Months later, a survey conducted by Bay District Schools found that roughly 30,000 students and staff were exhibiting clinical symptoms of depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

With the support of UNICEF USA and MHA of Greater Houston, the district was able to provide all Kognito’s Trauma-Informed Practices for K12 Schools simulation to 38 campuses covering over 1,600 educators. In addition, the state of Florida offers access to Kognito’s At-Risk simulations through Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act funding via the Florida Department of Education. Together these educators accessed training on topics like how to recognize mental health signs and symptoms, suicide prevention, trauma-informed practices, and self-care.

Don’t Let Budget be a Barrier

A growing body of research supports social and emotional learning curriculum. There’s an increasing push to incorporate whole child development strategies in schools, and addressing social and emotional needs has been proven to lead to:

• Better academic outcomes
• Improved behavior/conduct
• Lower drug use
• A positive impact on emotional distress
• Improved lifetime outcomes including economic mobility

As suicide prevention expert Rich Lieberman said in an interview with Kognito, students need support now more than ever. “If we thought students fell through the cracks before, now the cracks are canyons.”

Don’t let budget be a barrier to supporting your students, teachers, and staff when they need it most. What seems like an uphill battle can be accomplished with creativity and guidance. And the view from the top—teachers and students who feel empowered to better support themselves and each other at this critical moment—is well worth the effort.

Ready to find funding that can help your district support student safety and wellbeing? Download our funding guide to simplify your search, and contact us at info@kognito.com if you’d like one-on-one support.

Explore more articles from the Kognito blog: 

• The Hidden Cost of Free: What Districts Should Know About the Cost of Teacher Training
• Finding Professional Development on a Shoestring Budget
• Infographic: Evaluating Professional Development for K-12 Teachers and Staff

If you’re interested in weighing the costs and benefits for implementing mental health professional development in your school or district, don’t miss our whitepaper, Criteria for Selecting Mental Health Training for K-12 School Personnel.