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Field Liaison Program

As part of its mission, SPAN USA continues efforts to create and help implement strategies for suicide prevention on the national, state, and community levels.  But we know that SPAN USA’s Washington, DC office cannot do this alone; social change can only occur if it is driven by the collective action of individuals and communities across the nation.  SPAN USA’s Field Support program seeks to inspire others to raise their community’s awareness about suicide and help spread the word that prevention is possible.  Only then can suicide receive the national attention it deserves, and the veil of secrecy that surrounds the tragedy of suicide can be lifted. 

Over the last ten years, SPAN USA’s grassroots ‘field network’, has included advocates, survivors, health professionals, and community leaders who have volunteered to serve as SPAN USA Community Organizers.  In our efforts to improve our network and respond to modern community organizing techniques, SPAN USA is transitioning these community organizers into a network of “Field Liaisons”. 

The objectives of SPAN USA’s Field Liaison program are to:

  • Increase public awareness of suicide as a public health problem in every community across the country
  • Promote local, state, and federal policies and programs that prevent suicide
  • Disseminate information to individuals in the community regarding SPAN USA activities
  • Build partnerships with other local suicide prevention and mental health agencies, governments, media, and other organizations with a stake in public health
  • Help remove the stigma associated with suicide by bringing the subject out in the open and discussing what can be done to prevent it
  • Recruit other advocates to join SPAN USA and the fight against suicide
  • Give a voice to suicide survivors so they can become a positive force in the community and prevent future suicides.

SPAN USA’s goal is to have 435 Field Liaisons across the country—one in every Congressional district in the United States.  When this is achieved, SPAN USA could spread the vision of suicide prevention to each and every member of Congress through one of their constituents in the network.  And although it will take some time to make this dream a reality, we must begin now to build the infrastructure and resources needed so that this program can advance to its next stage of evolution.

It is important that Field Liaisons know that no matter how much (or how little) time they have to devote to the cause, there are many ways that they can make a difference in this cause.  They can build relationships, gather resources, and use their advocacy and community organization skills in order to help mobilize others.  Field Liaisons can serve as a resource by distributing educational materials and by helping others understand the importance of suicide prevention. They are also advocates for those in need, supporters of survivors who have already lost a loved one, and relationship-builders for those who feel isolated.  For example, Field Liaisons can connect those who have just lost someone to suicide in their community with their local suicide support group. Or, if their community has not acknowledged suicide as a priority, Field Liaisons can help guide their communities in forming an expert task force to review the problem or to help them create a comprehensive strategy that systematically and effectively addresses the problem in their community.

Click on the Field Liaison Application today to get started.

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SPAN USA gratefully acknowledges
Forest Pharmaceuticals for its support of this program.