1. Coping And Support Training
A Suicide (Plus)
Prevention Program 
Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.
Coping And Support Training

2.  Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.
Why we need CAST …
Suicide is a 2nd or 3rd leading cause of death among youth yrs. of age; in some states, youth suicide rates exceed homicide rates
2. Youth at risk for high-school dropout are at elevated risk for suicidal behaviors
3. At risk youth often experience other health risks, including depression, hopelessness, aggression and drug involvement 2
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.

3. Who is CAST for ? Listen to the stories of four typical CAST students
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.. 3

4. Meet a Typical CAST Student
Parental pressure to perform like high-achieving brother
Skilled musician; many demands to practice
Not much perceived support from peers
Stressed by school - feeling hopeless
Has had suicidal thoughts and a prior attempt
Vicki
14 year old
9th grade
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.. 4

5. Meet Another Typical Student
Jim
15 year old
10th grade
Out late at night; often gets to school late
When confronted about behavior, acts angry and hopeless
May lose credits due to frequent absences
Maintaining a B average
Partying, using drugs and/or alcohol daily
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC 5

6. Meet Another Typical Student
Kodi
17 year old
11th grade
Athletic, outgoing, social leader in school
Wit, defiance causing conflicts with teachers, affecting grades and moods
Says he is drug-free, not using now
Befriends known drug/ alcohol users
Evidences depression and anger 6
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC

7.  Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.
Finally, meet . . .
Works hard in classes, is a talented writer but failed math
Spends a lot of time alone
Has little tolerance for drug users
Interview revealed high levels of anxiety/ depression
Clarissa
16 year old
10th grade
Teachers are concerned about withdrawal/ depression 7
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.

8. Risk and Protective Factors
Addressed are…
Direct Suicide Risk Factors
Related Suicide Risk Factors
Protective Factors:
Personal and Social Support Resources 
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9. CAST students may exhibit ...
Direct Suicide Risk Factors
Direct and Indirect Suicidal Threats
Planning and Preparation
Exposure to Suicide
Positive Attitudes / Beliefs about Suicide
The greater the number of factors evidenced, the higher the suicide risk.
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC. 9

10. Students may also exhibit ...
Related Suicide Risk Factors
Risky Behaviors, Impulsivity, Violence, Victimization, Multiple Stressors, Anger/Aggression
Hopelessness
School Performance, Family Distress, Anxiety, Drug Involvement, Depression
Risky Behaviors, Impulsivity
Violence, Victimization
Multiple Stressors
Anger / Aggression
Hopelessness
School Performance
Family Distress
Anxiety
Drug Involvement
Depression
More related risks increase suicide risk. 10
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC

11. These students may lack important assets . . .
Protective Factors
Assets counteract suicide risks.
Personal
and
Social
Resources
Problem-solving Coping
Family Support Satisfaction
Sense of Support
Personal Control
Self-Esteem
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC 11

12. Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.
How do we find students
who need CAST ?
By screening for suicide-risk
By selecting a known high- risk group – e.g.
Depressed youth Native Americans Potential Dropouts Youth in Transition 
Reconnecting Youth TM LLC. 12

13. By screening, we can find students at risk for …
Potential high-school dropout, and
Suicidal behaviors — i.e., those endorsing
Direct suicide risk behaviors — thoughts, threats, plans or prior attempts
Related risk factors — depression, drug involvement
Students who ‘screen in’ should be graciously approached and invited to participate!
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC. 13

14. CAST Meets Design Challenges by:
Addressing both ‘direct’ and ‘related’ suicide-risk factors
Enhancing protective factors
Being culturally and developmentally appropriate for at-risk youth
Facing the challenge of screening for level of suicide risk
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC. 14

15. Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.
CAST Program Features
Design challenges
Program structure
Goals Skills training 12 sessions Lesson Structure
Content 
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16. CAST Program Structure
Skills training in a supportive context (with content outlined next) 
6-8 students per group
Implemented in students’ school
Twelve 55-minute sessions over 6 weeks
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC. 16

17. CAST Content 3 Goals designed to help at-risk youth to:
Decrease school problems, strain increase grades and attendance, credits, and school bonding
Decrease suicide-risk and emotional distress
suicidal thoughts and behaviors; depression,
hopelessness, anxiety, anger and aggression
Decrease drug involvement drug use frequency, drug use control problems,
and adverse drug use consequences
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC. 17

18. CAST Content 4 Major Skill Areas
Building Self-Esteem
Learning to appreciate self and others
2. Decision Making Choosing to make healthy decisions
3. Monitoring and Setting Goals Deciding what we want & tracking progress
4. Personal Control Managing moods, drug use & school smarts
An essential skill set to achieve the 3 CAST goals!
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC. 18

19. Coaching / Skills Training Adult Motivation and Support
CAST Prevention Strategies
Assessment Feedback
Access to Help
Peer Group Support
Monitoring
Coaching / Skills Training
Adult Motivation and Support
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC. 19

20. CAST Content:12 Sessions
WELCOME and ORIENTATION
GROUP SUPPORT and SELF-ESTEEM
SETTING and MONITORING GOALS
BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM, BEATING THE BLUES
DECISION-MAKING – TAKING ‘STEPS’
SCHOOL SMARTS
ANGER MANAGEMENT #1
ANGER MANAGEMENT #2
DRUG-USE CONTROL–MAKING HEALTHY DECISIONS
PREVENTING SLIPS and RELAPSES
RECOGNIZING PROGRESS and STAYING ON TRACK
CELEBRATING GRADUATION
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC. 20

21. CAST Session Structure …
Components Time
Constant Blend of Skills Training and Group Support 1 2 3 4 5 6
Sneak Peek – What’s Next? ~ 5 min
Check In ~10 min
Motivate / Today’s Big Ideas ~ 2 min
Lifework (practice beyond group) ~ 5 min
Practice (during group session) ~20 min
Learning Activities (learn skills) ~15 min
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC. 21

22. Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.
Does CAST Work?
Experimental Results for
Study Design CAST group (+ CARE one-to-one assessment & connections intervention), compared to Usual Care (the Beck interview & intervention)
Suicide risk Emotional distress Drug involvement Protective factors 
Reconnecting Youth TM LLC. 22

23.  Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.
Significant results for CAST [+CARE] youth relative to ‘usual care,’ treated controls:
65% in Global Suicide Risk Behaviors (56% for controls)
64% in Positive Attitudes toward suicide (56% for controls)
58% in Suicidal Ideation (42% for controls)
63% in Suicidal Threats (44% for controls)
68% in Suicide Attempts (43% for controls)
Suicide Risk Factors O U T C M E S
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.

24.  Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.
44% in Depression [24% for controls]
29% in Hopelessness [22% for controls]
34% (females), 27% (males) in Anxiety
[13% (females), % (males) for controls ]
24% (females), 20%  (males) in Anger
[12% (females), %  (males) for controls]
Emotional Distress
Significant results for CAST [+CARE] youth relative to ‘usual care,’ treated controls : O U T C M E S
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.

25.  Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.
16% in Alcohol Use (3% for controls)
7% in Marijuana Use (10%  for controls)
62% in Hard Drug Use (27% for controls)
33% in Drug Control Problems (2% for controls)
35% in Adverse Drug Use Consequences
(24% for controls)
Drug Involvement
Significant results for CAST [+CARE] youth relative to ‘usual care,’ treated controls: O U T C M E S
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.

26.  Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.
24% in Personal Control (16%  for controls)
24% in Problem-Solving Coping
(4% for controls)
27% in Family Support
(14% for controls)
Protective Factors
Significant results for CAST [+CARE] youth relative to ‘usual care’ controls:
Significant results for CAST [+CARE] youth relative to ‘usual care,’ treated controls: O U T C M E S
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.

27. CAST Process Model Implementing CAST as designed = positive outcomes!
Monitoring
Adult Motivation and Support
Peer Group Support
Access to Help
Assessment Feedback
Coaching / Skills Training
CAST Process Model
Implementing CAST as designed = positive outcomes!
Prevention Mechanisms Mediators Outcomes
Decreased
Suicide Risk Behaviors
Emotional Distress
Drug Involvement
Increased Personal Competencies
Increased Social Support Resources
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC. 27

28.  Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.
Significant intervention effects included . . .
Declines in direct suicide risks suicidal attitudes, suicidal ideation
Declines in related emotional distress
depression, hopelessness, and for females, anxiety, anger control problems
Declines in related drug involvement
drug use control problems
Increases in mediators / assets personal control, problem-solving coping I T W O R K S
What could be more important than RECONNECTING the DISCONNECTED youth in your school? RY is all about reaching students at risk of dropping out of school, of becoming increasingly involved in using alcohol and other drugs, and of depression, as well as suicidal, aggressive or violent behavior patterns.
The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of the Program, demonstrating who it is designed for, outlining the prevention components in the program, and the results you can expect if you deliver RY as designed.
Think this should say Reconnecting Youth Program and use the RY Program Logo not the one for the business.
I agree but don’t have the final program hands logo in color
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.

29.  Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.
Reasons to adopt CAST … I T W O R K S
CAST is evidence-based; the only small-group, skills-training, school-based program classified as ‘Effective’ by SPRC, Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Research showed that suicide-risk screening was feasible and CAST was effective for reducing suicide risk among adolescents—one of the Surgeon General’s goals
Other studies suggest CAST works with middle-school youth transitioning to high-school, and as a general risk-reduction, asset-building intervention for teens
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.

30.  Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.
CAST Leaders are Key!
They need to be …
Chosen -
For their superior interpersonal skills with ‘at-risk’ youth
Willing -
To be involved when invited
What could be more important than RECONNECTING the DISCONNECTED youth in your school? RY is all about reaching students at risk of dropping out of school, of becoming increasingly involved in using alcohol and other drugs, and of depression, as well as suicidal, aggressive or violent behavior patterns.
The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of the Program, demonstrating who it is designed for, outlining the prevention components in the program, and the results you can expect if you deliver RY as designed.
Trained -
In how to implement CAST
4 full days with follow-up support
 Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.

31. Who Benefits? We all do when … Together we can make a difference!
high-risk youth have less emotional distress, more coping skills and social support—to offset stressful life events that lead to depression and suicide risk
Who Benefits?
you and others reach out in your
school communities to identify and engage youth in CAST
you can expect positive outcomes with your students IF you deliver CAST as it is designed
Together we can make a difference! 
Reconnecting Youth TM Inc.

32. Coping And Support Training
Contact Information 
Reconnecting Youth TM LLC.