Create a Second Wind Fund Affiliate Program in Your Community

The mission of the Second Wind Fund (SWF) is to decrease the incidence of adolescent suicide by removing financial and social barriers to treatment for at-risk youth.

When a school counselor deems a student at-risk for suicide and the student has inadequate mental health insurance, Second Wind pays licensed, private therapists, with expertise in working with teens at-risk for suicide and who work at reduced rates, to provide counseling services for the student.

SWF was formed after four teen suicides in a Jefferson County, Colorado high school during the 2001-2002 school year. It is now accessible to every youth 19 and under in the Denver metro area (Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Jefferson, and Park counties) and through our affiliates in Douglas, El Paso, Mesa, and Teller counties. Referrals are normally made through school counselors, whether at public, private, charter, or choice schools, although youth being home-schooled or no longer attending school are also eligible.

After extensive research and a formal decision made by the Second Wind Fund Board of Directors, SWF is starting to initiate Affiliate Programs across the United States.

In March 2008, Second Wind Fund hired a new Affiliate Coordinator to work with existing Colorado affiliates as well as provide assistance to individuals or organizations that are interested in starting a SWF Affiliate in their community.

Why Second Wind Fund?

  1. This is a fundamentally different and unique program--entirely distinguishable from any other awareness or education program that you may offer--because it actually offers direct services and fills a real niche in suicide prevention plans by offering fast, high-quality treatment services to kids who would not otherwise receive quality services.
  2. Second Wind Fund has shown proven results in reducing teen suicide.
  3. Offering education and awareness programs is so very important for any community; however, once a young person is identified as having suicidal thoughts, can they afford mental health services? Studies show that in Colorado, 62% of individuals with suicidal ideation do not seek mental health services due to financial issues. Second Wind Fund removes that concern for youth and families.
  4. Funders find this program very appealing because money goes directly to treatment services.
  5. This is a very replicable program in any community, as we have an existing template and procedures.
  6. Seed money is available for new affiliate start ups.

Currently, there are five different communities looking at starting a Second Wind Fund (SWF) Affiliate: Kansas City, MO, Albuquerque, NM, Kalispell, MT, Huntingburg, IN and Durango, CO with many other individuals requesting information and discussing with their communities how SWF could make a difference in their town.

Because the success that SWF has had can be duplicated in any community with our existing template and assistance, we will walk you through the process and reduce the concern of extensive time and energy to get this program started.

Additionally, SWF will provide up to $3,000 in seed money over a three year period to help with the process. Each community makes a commitment of $5,000 to get things started. In the first year, with minimal time spent, that money could equal approximately 120 counseling sessions for young people which translates to approximately 10-15 youth receiving mental health services with a licensed therapist—a youth that otherwise would not receive such services due to lack of insurance or family financial difficulties.

It would be our honor to assist any community in starting their own Second Wind Fund Affiliate in order to have a powerful and positive impact on youth at risk for suicide.


If you’re interested in starting a Second Wind Fund Affiliate Program in your community, please contact our Affiliates Coordinator, Lori A. Hoffner at the Second Wind Fund office; 303-988-2645, or email her at LHoffner@TheSecondWindFund.org.



Affiliates

Mesa County Suicide Prevention Coalition, Grand Junction, Colorado

The Western Slope Suicide Coalition based in Grand Junction, serves the part of Colorado with the highest suicide rate. Colorado’s Western Slope has a suicide rate that is twice the per capita national average. WSSC added Second Wind to their suicide prevention services in March 2005. To date, 36 students have been referred through WSSC’s Second Wind Fund.

Kiwanis Club of Castle Pines Foundation, Douglas County, Colorado

Second Wind makes many presentations to Kiwanis Clubs, but the Kiwanis Club of Castle Pines is the first club to become so enthused as to begin a local Second Wind program! The Club has established the Kiwanis Club of Castle Pines Foundation in part to serve as the functioning arm for the club's Second Wind program. To date, 41 students have been referred through the Kiwanis Club Foundation of Castle Pine’s Second Wind Fund.

Suicide Prevention Partnership of the Pikes Peak Region, El Paso and Teller Counties

Suicide Prevention Partnership of the Pikes Peak Region (SPPPPR), based in Colorado Springs, is the newest Second Wind affiliate. The premier suicide prevention organization serving Colorado Springs and the annual hosts of the Mayor's Cup Challenge in Colorado Springs began offering a Second Wind program in the fall of 2005. To date, 25 students have been referred through the Suicide Prevention Partnership of the Pikes Peak Region, El Paso and Teller Counties.

For more information about starting a new Second Wind Fund affiliate, whether in Colorado or elsewhere in the U.S., please contact Lori Hoffner, Affiliates Director, at 303.988.2645 or lhoffner@thesecondwindfund.org.